“For God alone my soul waits in silence
From Him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
My defense and my strong tower;
I will not be shaken or disheartened.”
Psalm 62:1-2 AMP
Grace Perspective:
Silence, stillness…. waiting. This Psalm of David reminds us that as we wait on the Lord, we must quiet our souls. Easier said than done, right? David gives us clues about how to do this challenging exercise by reminding us who God is. This is what we refer to as ‘gracious silence ‘, a state of calm and trust in God’s presence during our waiting periods.
God offers us salvation in Christ Jesus and provides refuge when life is hard. David experienced many difficult seasons where he had to literally live in caves. Surrounded by thick rock walls, David knew that God was his defense and a strong tower. As he waited in the stillness for the Lord to deliver him, David drew near to God, knowing by faith that God was close to him. David calmed his racing heart by clinging to the truth and continually reminding himself of who God is, so his heart was not shaken as he waited in gracious silence for the Lord.
A Touch of Grace:
What does silence mean to you?
What do you do as you wait on the Lord?
Grace Application:
Waiting is hard, and waiting without inner turmoil and anxiety is even more difficult. Thankfully, being quiet doesn’t mean we can’t talk with God. The silence David refers to is the absence of chaotic emotions that threaten our trust in God.
God waits for us to open our hearts to Him. Waiting in silence doesn’t mean we don’t have a conversation with God. Instead, it means expressing all our emotions to Him and trusting He can handle them. Placing our faith in the Lord, knowing He is there, ready to listen as we share our hearts, reveals who we trust. He is not a silent presence but a compassionate listener who understands our deepest emotions.
We may never find ourselves hiding in a cave from enemies who seek to kill us; however, life can take us to dark places. Our thoughts can become enemies if we allow them to distort our thinking about God. Doubt and fear are powerful emotions that quickly cause our minds and hearts to forget what we know is true. But our faith in God, His goodness, His presence, His hearing, His plan, and H
is sustenance can overpower these negative emotions, giving us hope and strength even in the darkest of times. (See 2 Corinthians 1:4-10)
God permits seasons of pain for many reasons we can’t understand. However, as we remember who God is and that He wastes nothing that He brings into our lives, perhaps we can begin to see the dark places as C.S. Lewis did,
“Holy places are dark places. It is life and strength,
not knowledge and words, that we get in them.
Holy wisdom is not clear and thin like water,
but thick and dark like blood.” [i]
When I walk through a season of uncertainty, I pour out my anxiety and worry to God. My mind is often at war as I struggle to hold on to what I know is true. Emotions of fear and doubt threaten to control me. However, as I cry out to God, I remember my Savior, who fought this battle too. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus poured out His heart to the Father, revealing that He experienced deep emotions in His human flesh. Our Savior modeled for us who to turn to with all our feelings.
The dark places become holy when we remember Who He is, the Rock of our salvation, and our souls are strengthened. We find refuge in His Word, a defense against thoughts that seek to draw us into a bottomless pit of doubt and fear. His Word is not just a defense, but a powerful force that transforms our thoughts and feelings, filling us with hope and peace. We have to remind ourselves to do this almost non-stop. However, as we take our thoughts to the strong tower of truth, gracious silence can fill our souls. I pray that we each find refuge in His quiet grace while waiting for Him.
In His Grace,
Dawn
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, thankful that You are my Rock and Strong Tower. Your Word is a defense against the chaotic thoughts that sometimes seek to overwhelm me. Forgive me for the times I let fear and doubt consume me. Holy Spirit, help me remember the Truth. Help me come to You when emotions threaten to control me and quiet my soul as I wait in gracious silence, trusting Who You are. Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please seek God so that doubts are removed. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**
[i] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/780048-holy-places-are-dark-places-it-is-life-and-strength