Do you ever feel like chaos is around you, yet you are quieted and calm for some reason–like God’s presence? Fiona Burrows shares how she is quieted.
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
A close friend of mine, lost her nephew in a tragic motorbike accident recently. A young lad only 25 and someone who should have had so much of life ahead of him. Instead, this accident has brought so much grief to his family and friends and his daughter, due to be born soon, who will not get to know her father.
Just after this death, my dad ending up in hospital again and the uncertainty of what they would do, or if they were waiting for something worse to happen, seemed to overtake us. We were just getting through the visiting and he was home again and starting rehab, when he collapsed and again, ended up back in hospital.
I’m not sure if it was always this way, but my panic attacks and anxiety get so much worse at times like these. When the times of great anxiety seem to come one after another, it’s so hard to focus on what’s life-giving, rather than the things that seem to suck energy and life out of us.
Life can change in a heartbeat, can’t it? And I know that many of you, like me, have faced changes you never dreamed of in your own life.
How do we make sense of tragedy and loss in our lives, knowing that we have a God who knows all and loves us so much? How can we be quieted when life is so unfair? How could He allow those things that tear us apart?
I guess at times of tragedy, or when we receive devastating health news, we might all ask how God could allow us to suffer these things. Isn’t that just a human response? In the light of panic, or stress, shock or loss–this verse from Zephaniah says “He will quiet me with His love.” Not only is God with us, He is mighty to save in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. His love will help us be quieted.
That doesn’t mean God will necessarily remove any of the painful circumstances, but that He will save us from carrying the weight of them alone. What a comfort that should be for us when we wonder “why” bad things happen.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for your presence with us in every trial we face, and that You have quieted my anxiety and surrounded me with Your love. Amen.
About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life, and the lessons He is teaching her, as she lives with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to travel if she is able. You can contact her in the Sunroom.
How do you get through those times when life seems to be one challenge after another? Do you feel that God has quieted you with His love?
Are you feeling like you need to be quieted right now? Take a moment to watch this worship song, “Breathe” with Michael W. Smith. I think it is amazing how quickly our spirit really can be quieted when we take a moment to place ourselves in the midst of worship at the Lord’s feet. -Lisa
Fiona, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend’s nephew. May God’s comfort be all over them with each day that dawns, supplying every need for comfort, strength and hope. And I hope things are well with your father now. Panic and anxiety in the wake of such things are totally understandable! One of my questions in life has come to be the very point you brought up…I wonder why that as you said: “it’s so hard to focus on what’s life-giving, rather than the things that seem to suck energy and life out of us.” I guess it is something deep in our inner nature, almost like a default setting. I don’t know. The verse from Zephaniah has been a powerful one in my life this past year, and it truly is a reminder that as He “rejoices over us with singing”… it’s a reminder of the fact that He is “over” us…and “over” all that happens in our lives. It calls my heart to remember to “look up” because I will find Him there. It calls to remembrance that He IS there and He’s bigger…Just as you said…”mighty to save” no matter what we’re going through. We never lose when we resist our “default settings” in crisis and make the choice to run to Him and receive His peace. Thank you for being such a blessing with this beautiful article, Fiona. God’s peace and blessings be all over you and yours, dear one. Gentle hugs…BeBe <3
Fiona, I, too appreciated your devotional – and appreciated BeBe’s comments, as well.
I have known times when so much was happening at one time. In the natural it seemed impossible to put one foot in front of the other. Yet, at the same time, it was as if God had a string with His loving hand at the end and He lead me through. For sure, I know it was not any strength of mine that was operating. I was called upon to be “there” for loved ones and was barely able to be there for myself.
That may be the key. We are not here “for ourselves”. We are here to give witness to the One who has given us the gift of life and as He “sings over us”, we choose to get quiet so we can here the song He is singing – the song of strength and comfort and peace and a knowing we will persevere because every song He has sung over us before has helped us to know how faithful He is – at all times and in all circumstances.
Love,
Lynn
BeBe, thanks so much for your comments.
I like that “default setting”. I think when I wrote this, I was in the middle of what was uncertain with my Dad (he is improving now) and those are the times when it’s hard to get past that. I felt I needed to write to remind myself what I should be doing, rather than what I felt I was doing – by default, maybe.
Blessings to you!
Fiona
Fiona, I think the reason this devotional is so powerful and relatable may actually be the very situation with your Dad in which you were writing it! It’s as if God made you a channel of blessing in your valley because you were willing to be so open before Him, and with others who can relate because of their own challenging paths and battles with our “default” settings.I believe it helps us all as believers to realize that we’re surrounded by others who struggle just as we do, and we can link arms together in Him on this journey. When people are real about their struggles, yet point the way to hope, others don’t feel so alone in their own struggles…and it encourages them with hope. I love the ways in which He works as only He can! Thank you for being an instrument of His blessing
And Lynn…right on, sister!
It’s going to be so much fun in heaven one day when we will all be able to praise Him together! Gentle hugs, dear sisters! Bebe <3
Oh how I am blessed! First, blessed by the devotional Fiona. Zephaniah is one of my favorite verses when I need to run to the Father like a little child. Every time He quiets me, and sings over me.
Then BeBe, your example of a “default ” setting is so clever I had to write it down. Then, my precious friend Lynn, you blessed me also! “The song of strength, and comfort and peace and a knowing we will persevere because every song He has sung over us before…” I love the way those words are strung together. It will be so wonderful when we meet together in Heaven, and we will know the precious friends that meant so much here in the battleground.
Fiona, I will continue to pray for you and your family. And for the friend who had such loss. How wonderful that you experienced peace during this time. Know you are loved dear friend,
Sandy
Dear Lynn, Sandy & BeBe,
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, your words are more encouraging than you could know.
It will be wonderful to share together in Heaven one day – when these earthly struggles will be forgotten – but how blessed we are to have a Heavenly Father who is always there, and fellow travelers along the way, spurring us on through the daily grind!
Blessings to each of you,
Fiona