Keep a Quiet Heart

It has been a bit of an emotional last few weeks, with a few trials, stressful situations, and sleep, hormones, and weight loss struggles. My spirit has been disquieted within me. I have given way to many tears. I have put my hope in a number on the scale, and when my efforts seem in vain, I gave in to my emotions and frustrations.

Then the Spirit directed me back to Elisabeth Elliot’s beautiful volume, Keep a Quiet Heart, and I was immediately convicted and encouraged by her words.

“Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup, and have made my lot secure” (Psalm 16:5). I know of no greater simplifier for all of life. Whatever happens is assigned…Every assignment is measured and controlled for my eternal good.”

“Our enemy delights in disquieting us. Our Savior and Helper delights in quieting us. ‘As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you’ (Is 66:13) is His promise. The choice is ours. It depends on our willingness to see everything in God, receive all from His hand, accept with gratitude just the portion and the cup He offers.”

My anxious disquieted heart is not the Father’s will for me. He calls me to be content in my assigned lot, even if that includes sleepless nights.

My hope can’t be found in a number, even if it’s a healthy weight on the scale.

My hope can’t be found in a smooth, peaceful homeschool day.

My hope can’t be found in the stress-free life.

My hope can’t be found in a tidy home.

My hope can’t be found in my husband’s business being successful.

My hope can’t be found in tension tamer tea, despite how much I love it. :)

My hope can rest on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteous. Jesus is enough. He is all I need. When the world around me grows overwhelming, fearsome, and stressful…my anchor must stay grounded in Christ, the Solid Rock. Every interruption or seeming hindrance in the way is from His hand, because He has something better for me.

I love how Elisabeth Elliot emphasizes Jesus’ example of keeping a quiet heart:

“Jesus slept on a pillow in the midst of a raging storm. How could He? The terrified disciples, sure that the next wave would send them straight to the bottom, shook Him awake with rebuke. How could He be so careless of their fate?

“He could because He slept in the calm assurance that His Father was in control. His was a quiet heart. We see Him move serenely through all the events of His life - when He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He knew that He would suffer many things and be killed in Jerusalem, He never deviated from His course. He had set His face like flint. He sat at supper with one who would deny Him and another who would betray Him, yet He was able to eat with them, willing even to was their feet. Jesus in the unbroken intimacy of His Father’s love, kept a quiet heart.” - Elisabeth Elliot

“He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.” - Lina Sandell

My prayer for today and everyday:

“Lord, give to me a quiet heart
That does not ask to understand,
But confident steps forward in
The darkness guided by Thy hand.” - Elisabeth Elliot