Quieting Our Souls
Jenny Marcelene, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
My heart sank as I read the article title on my computer screen. Why hadn’t I thought of that idea? Of course, the author wrote a stellar piece. Again. I sighed. I couldn’t even bring myself to read it.
Jealousy weaved its way through my body like a viper’s bite. I knew better than to compare myself. But the poison was already doing its awful work. Sure we weren’t in competition with each other. But somehow, I felt inadequate in every possible way.
Anger boiled inside my heart like a tea kettle. I was trying so hard to be good enough. But I perpetually found myself falling short. Rather than keeping my eyes on the next right step, I was digressing into despair. And this path led nowhere but down.
When we start playing the comparison game or feel we aren’t getting what we think we should, we land ourselves in a heap of discontentment—and create the perfect storm for bitterness to take root in our hearts.
The psalmist reminds us that when jealousy and selfish ambition rears its ugly head, we should take the path of humility. Sometimes in our striving, we can miss out on the most important gift of all: trust and joy in the Lord.
A nursing infant wants to drink her mother’s milk—and needs it frequently throughout the day. But a weaned baby can snuggle close to her mother, not crying out for milk. She can delight in her mother’s nearness.
When we don’t demand praise, recognition, success, or a speedy timeline from the Lord, we are free to savor His presence like a weaned baby. But when we chase after things that don’t satisfy our hungry hearts, we are filled with disappointment and striving.
Just as weaning a child can be challenging, training ourselves to calm and quiet our souls can be a difficult trail. When I weaned my oldest son, I gradually nursed him one minute less each day. This slow approach made the transition less abrupt but took intentionality.
So it is with our souls. We must gradually turn our hearts away from things that don’t satisfy—even good things—so that we can experience the kindness of the Lord. What we thought we needed, we may discover wasn’t so important after all.
As I confessed my sins to the Lord, I could exchange their weight tugging me down with the upward flight of forgiveness and joy in the Lord. I didn’t have to be the best.
And as I stopped setting my eyes on things beyond my control and out of my grasp, I could celebrate this friend’s article. As I texted a note of encouragement to her, my soul could rest in knowing God was more than enough for me.
PRAYER
Father God, forgive us when we’re tempted to want to be the best in unhealthy ways. May we fix our minds on You and find our identity in being Your child, not what we accomplish. Let us walk in humility each day, fully secure in belonging to You. May we hope in You alone and train our souls to rest in You. Amen.
More free resources for help, hope, and healing:
Help & Hopeaudio stories produced by MARKINC address some of life's darkest circ*mstances that are often difficult to discuss yet need to be faced as we help one another walk by faith. These are the real-life testimonies of people who have walked through these experiences and have found their strength in Christ. Listening to these resources is also a way to sure up your foundation for those uninvited moments when your faith is challenged. We hope you will be encouraged and that you will share these stories with others to help them persevere in faith. Listen to the first Help & Hope podcast, a private interview with founders Chuck and Sharon Betters as they talk about the loss of their son, Mark: Loss of a Child
About the Author:Jenny Marcelene I spent six years living in conservative Muslim countries and desire to help parents and children catch a glimpse of how God is at work among the nations. I've traveled to 30 countries (and I'm not counting layovers when you don't actually leave the airport—that's cheating in my book!) and marvel at how each culture uniquely reflects aspects of God’s character like a multi-faceted diamond.
I work as a freelance writer and editor, including projects for Oakseed Ministries International. Once upon a time I worked as a Children’s Ministry and Curriculum Coordinator at my previous church for three years. I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (that's a long name for children's writers!) and hope*writers. Visit her website
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