He Will Quiet You with His Love
Do you sometimes think you are all alone in the world or that God doesn't love you? If so, you are not alone. Multitudes of people today have similar thoughts. There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis and we seem to know that God is with us. However it is when a crisis arises, we instantly reveal upon whom we rely.
"Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little faith?" Matthew 8:26
When we are in fear we can do nothing less than pray to God, but Our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His Name should have an understanding confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones. Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits' end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead.
If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence in Him. All of us will go through times where we feel stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious about situations we face. This was also true when the Apostle Paul was alive. Look at what he said when he prayed that the Ephesians would deeply know God's love.
I pray, Father, that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [Adapted from Ephesians 3:16-21
The Ephesians did not fully grasp God's love for them. If this is true of you, too, prayerfully study the following Scriptures on God's love for you, especially verse 17. As you read, ask God to help you believe and accept the wonders of his mighty love for us. Keep praying this prayer until you grasp the reality and the wonder of knowing that God truly loves you!
Zephaniah 3:14-17 (New International Version)
14 Sing, O Daughter of
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment. He has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O
17 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."
I don't know about you, but right now, today, at this very moment, I need to be quieted by God's love. The picture that comes to my mind is one of a mother embracing her child who is afraid or hurting in some way. As the mother holds her child, she gently whispers words of reassurance and love. Whatever is troubling the child no longer seems big and scary. The child rests in her mother's embrace, reassured by the mother's love.
When you feel out of control, stressed and anxious about a situation, ask God to remind you of Zephaniah 3:17. It will cause you to think of God's great love for you. He will quiet you in your spirit, and the thing you are facing will no longer feel overwhelming because you will know that He is with you. Then as you go about your work, you can almost hear Him rejoicing over you with singing. What a loving and tender God we serve!
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