“Quiet Contentment”

“Surely I have composed and quieted my soul…” Psalm 131:2

     I am sitting in an overstuffed chair beside a big picture window, taking in the pure-white winter scene. Lofty jagged peaks form an impressive backdrop, while pine bows display their might holding with seeming ease the burden of still-falling snow. The cracking of logs in the stove randomly breaks the surrounding silence, providing all the necessary warmth this cabin requires. It is a scene that occupies both my memory and my desire, experience and longing, encounter and yearning. It is the kind of refreshment that my soul is particularly fond of, a quiet contentment that brings rest and strength. It’s different for everyone: for some it is kayaking in the cool morning on a still-as-glass mountain lake; for others it is the crashing of the surf overlooking the vast, endless ocean, a salty breeze filling the lungs; still others may find equal restoration with their dog on a stroll or a horse on a ride.

Tucked away in the corner of the Psalms is a little noticed, not often used song that ancient pilgrims sang on their way to worship. (These Psalms are call Songs of Ascent and occupy 120-134 in your Bible). Psalm 131 contains only three verses; a mere sixty-three English words. It is not uncommon for the profound to be contained in the simple. What concerns me at this juncture is the middle sentence—Surely I have composed and quieted my soul…” Let’s take it apart, examine each meaning, and put it all back together.

“Composed” attempts to communicate that something is uneven or out of balance. An adjustment must be made to level out the ground or to restore equilibrium. David’s experiences of life are not that different from ours—frustration, anxiety, fear, anger, excessive busyness. The ground under our steps begins to feel uneven, the scales of our lives are tipped causing us to lose balance. Composing our lives means we make the necessary adjustments to secure our balance on level ground.

“Quieted” means shhhhhhhh! Silence! External noise to be sure (see snowy cabin above). But even more so, silencing the internal noise, which I find to be the harder of the two. It describes the absence of emotional distress and the resulting churning we feel inside, the ability to be quiet and relax. Unrealistic or unmet expectations, disappointment, wounds and trauma can quickly rob us of peace, joy, and healthy, life-giving relationships.

Close your eyes; slowly inhale; pause; slowly exhale. Let the dust of the commotion in your soul begin to settle. Pick up all the random thoughts and pile them in a basket like a child picking up her toys. Allow yourself to see the floor of your heart again. (I’ve mentioned before the firm conviction that a messy external world reflects a disheveled inner world. It becomes necessary to clear the clutter before progress can be made).

David continues this short Psalm by seeing himself as a small child sitting comfortably on Papa-God’s lap. Only snuggled into His chest is he able to hear the heartbeat of His Heavenly Father. Its rhythm resets his own heart. Its affirmation rearranges his own thoughts and feelings. It is here that David begins to understand the love, mercy, and grace of God. He is in tune with the patterns of holiness and sacred delight!

Reassembling these parts reveals a key to David’s spiritual journey—he had to go to the mountain cabin of his soul to find the nourishment, rest, and strength required to live well. It was an intentional, systematic reset. In order to be a man after God’s own heart, he had to have the sacred rhythms of God’s heart, there was no other way. And it is no less true of us. You stand on the cusp of a year you have never lived, containing experiences and encounters that you have not yet faced, victories to be sure, but not without defeats. It will be unlike anything you have ever known. As such, it will require you to press your head to the Fathers chest, feel the rhythm of His heart, be mesmerized by His gentle breathing. Make your steps more sure by leveling the ground and finding your balance. Develop a deep sense of tranquility and contentment is just being with Him.

Blessings on the Journey, 

Pastor Dewayne