Quieting and Calming Your Soul

While doing the homework for my ladies' Life Group on Psalms, "Rebuild," by Susannah Baker, I discovered a Psalm and verses that called my attention to go beyond just reading but to meditating. Psalm 131:2 says, "Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me." This verse brought the confidence and assurance of a child who has experienced the provision, protection, and pacification it had when in need. A need during nursing they cannot fulfill on their own. They are dependent on the mother for this care. Mom has a responsibility to meet that need, but she can, in many ways, teach the child many essential traits necessary for life. The most crucial character trait taught to the child is trust, a deep abiding trust. The infant understands nothing outside their need, and learning to trust their mom knows is one significant way a child can mature once weaned to become a human being able to live in peace and contentment.

The poetry and beauty of this verse reveal the sound growth of a Christian from infancy to maturity. It does not negate the dependence needed from child to father; it highlights the possibility of growing up sound. We must recognize that God does not demand our maturity to immiserate his children or push us toward autonomy but to grow us dependent on him, where our power, talents, and gifts draw attention back to him. In contrast, we recognize he is the arbiter of all we offer to others. Everything comes from him. Even a weaned child remains dependent.

Yes, a weaned child remains dependent. At the same time, that child does not need to be drawn in when hungry. He does not require immediate attention at the moment of hunger pains. He continues to need his parents for his daily bread. Jesus reminds us in the Lord's Prayer to be dependent, weaned children by praying, "Give us this day our daily bread..." We never become independent as spiritual children. No matter how mature we get, we continue to look to God for our daily bread, to deliver us from evil, to understand that he cares for us, and to offer us his light and easy yoke for our cares and dependence. We are reminded that we may grow up, Yes, and must, while still, we are never without need for him.

This knowledge speaks to our soul. Giving ourselves over to this truth calms and quiets us from the inside, especially as we live, reminded of what a "Good, good Father" God has been and continues to be. We can move from infancy, being nursed, to maturity, weaned children, looking more like Jesus.

I think of David when he faced Goliath. The nursing time of his life was shepherding his family's sheep. He faced a lion and a bear, who threatened the sheep. He gave credit to God for the protection offered to his sheep in killing the threat towards them. When he faced Goliath, now a weaned, mature young man of God, he knew the God who built his confidence in those early years would be there for this more significant victory. He acted without hesitation; in fact, he wondered why there was a pause from others. The more we experience God's hand in our early years with him, the more confident and secure we must become as we walk (live) our lives for him.

We have all experienced God's provision, protection, and pacification, knowing we can trust him as a weaned child trusts his mother. Let us not stop at trust; we can walk through any need with a calm and quiet soul.