depend

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. ”

Psalm 131:1-2 NIV

The calmed soul depends on God and looks fearlessly towards eternity.

God provides rest for the soul that follows him. Rather than occupy oneself with what God is doing, herein lies an opportunity to find rest like a weaned child at ultimate peace. Children are not worried about finding a job, making money, or any other stresses that may come with adult life. They simply trust its parent to care and provide for them.

For David to describe himself as a ‘weaned’ child demonstrates a posture of complete satisfaction in God. He had given up his own comfort. Even though he had accomplished many things, David did not seek after high places where he could gratify himself, neither did he look down upon others. Rather, he deliberately chose to not obsess over things he didn’t understand, and turned his attention completely to God.

A calm, quiet soul is the result of understanding this concept. David had evolved from needing answers to coming to love God not for what he can give but for who He is.
We don’t need to understand in order to have peace, for God provides “peace that surpasses all understanding.” Instead of seeking answers for everything, we can rest and sink deeper into prayer and God’s Word in order to build an unshakeable foundation.

As we grow in our relationship with God, we are weaned; weaned from the world, its riches and pleasures, as well as from ourselves; weaned from depending on our own good works and fully dependent on the wisdom and grace of Yahweh.

“Blessed are those afflictions which subdue our affections, which wean us from self-sufficiency, which educate us into Christian maturity, which teach us to love God not merely when he comforts us, but even when he tries us.” (Charles Spurgeon)

centering prayer

LORD, more than answers, I just want your presence. amen.