In the Still of the Night

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13, NLT

Quite some time ago a friend asked me to write about stillness. After a long pause to reflect on that, I've arrived at my conclusions for what it means, where it comes from, and how to keep it once I've obtained it. One thing it isn't is quiet, necessarily. It also doesn't have to do with circumstances. Mostly, however, I find it in the wee hours when there are no other distractions. 

I admit that I get tired after a long day, especially after caring for my kids in all the various ways I do, and making sure my husband's needs are met as well. Many nights I go to sleep after saying some quick prayers about being so grateful for everything throughout the day- often not remembering what happened, yet with a smile on my face. It didn't really occur to me until now that this is a piece of that peace, the stillness within, that so many seek. There can be a hundred-one things that go wrong throughout the day, or continuous family issues, or devastating consequences you see unfolding in a friend's life; and yet I have this quietness, this stillness, this peace.

Our Creator made us to desire him. If we covet anything, it should be time alone with the one who made us. The one who began time has all the time we need to tell him our needs, or desires. I think that one of the problems with not finding peace is that we don't seek it from the source. We tend to believe that we should have what we want now. Added to that, if we don't get it, there must be a problem with...GULP...us, or worse with God himself. And we, at times, want what Neighbor Nellie has instead because her pinker tricycle is parked in a bigger yard, with a whiter fence, and she gets to go inside her house that's always perfectly organized and it never smells like wet dog and dirty socks. Plus, her mom makes chocolate chip cookies!

A lack of peace, in my humble opinion, is when you are insecure. You doubt God's promises. You are more focused on you and what you don't have than what he's already provided for you. Scripture is our main way of knowing what he has done, is doing, and will do for us in every sense. But then too, there is his still, small voice that whispers. So, insecure...there's a fear there. "I'm afraid of..., What if..., But..." Paul wrote a letter to Timothy reminding him that when he accepted Christ and was baptized in the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit that God gave to Timothy was not one of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Jesus left his disciples with HIS peace. Not the "I have everything I need, so I'm good" peace. He gave the "I will never abandon you" peace. Don't get me wrong. Providence is fabulous. Which is better; having everything you need, or having who you really need?

So many things happen in the world every moment. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that God really does have things under control. We think in terms of time. Ever heard of the phrase time crunch? Sounds like it puts pressure on us. How much peace do you think would come from pressure to...? Jehovah Shammah doesn't have the confines of a clock. That's not in his realm. However he does bring about solutions to our predicaments in time. 

Are you sensing in your mind, or spirit a lack of peace? A lack of anything? Focus on him. You might get distracted and start thinking, "How's this going to work?" Ask him. Tell him you've thought what you thought. Then tell him to take it. Say to yourself in his presence that you don't understand what's going on. And then just sit still and listen for his voice. It's not the booming, thunderous one you may be expecting. His voice is quiet, and authoritative, but gentle.

Just this past week there was something on my mind that I had been praying about. Really more pondering though what life would be like if there was a certain change. It was exciting and terrifying. I have become quite comfortable in the plot of land I'm planted in. My roots have sunk in and grown. That's great. Everyone loves to see that they've made progress. I've been blessed and I believe I've been a blessing to others. This would be a significant change because it would affect many around me. Earlier in the week I had been fasting and praying. It piques my interest to see what God is doing. I know whatever it is, I want to be part of it. 

As I stated earlier, God gets my attention at night. One night last week I was awakened by his voice. I heard what he said. So now, I ask for wisdom and wait. And I have others pray for me. Prayer warriors that I can trust to pray that God's will would be done, and that I would have peace with whatever happens. That my heart would be for working on his behalf, not him working on my behalf. I already know he does that. I feel it. I believe it. I praise, and thank, and honor him for it. A friend of mine told me that God had awakened her to pray for me in the night. Let me tell you, it is such a blessing to hear people you love tell you that they are awake in the middle of the night being obedient to God praying for you! 

I have no idea how this will turn out. But I believe that it will be good! In the meantime, I intend to keep praying, keep seeking God's peace, reminding myself- repeating it in the mirror if I have to!- that my Shepherd wants me to stay near to him. He can protect me that way. I can hear him when I'm close. If I feel safe, then I have peace. If I don't get distracted, then I will hear him.

Lord, I lift up your great name. I exalt you. I give you honor, and glory for what you have done, and what you are doing, and what you will do. Time is in your hands, yet it isn't something that hinders you. I am so grateful that you are patient with me. I am not always peaceful. In this season of life, I want more and more to shine your light. There is so much darkness! But still, in the dark we can see the light. Fill me with your peace, and allow me to be a light for this dark world. Thank you for choosing me to do work for you. I love you, Father! I want to show you my love by being obedient to your will. Show me your plan. You have prepared me for this, and I accept the task and will do it joyfully.