Guest writer: Rosemary Fisher, my mom

A Quiet Soul

Guest writer: Rosemary Fisher, my mom

            I don’t remember a time in my life when there seemed to be so much uncertainty, fear, and anxiety- on a global level. Of course, each of us have had periods in our lives where we have faced difficult times, but never before, on a global level, has there been a time such as this- where it seems the whole world is relatively at the same place, to a degree. If you’re like me, emotions may be running high. It seems to be a daily task to keep my emotions in check.

            It is certainly no coincidence that God has me currently reading a book called How’s Your Soul? by Pastor Judah Smith. I found one chapter in particular very helpful to me. I’d like to share some of Pastor Judah’s comments that I found beneficial. The title of the chapter, A Quiet Soul, is mostly based on Psalm 131, just a 3 verse chapter in Psalms, written by King David. 

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

My eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

Too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul… 

(Psalm 131: 1-2a)

It is important to point out that King David was the most influential and affluent person around at that time. “He had more fame, fortune, and responsibility than most of us could imagine…yet he found a way to quiet his soul” (all quotes will be from Pastor Judah). “If King David could develop a calm soul in the middle of the craziness of ruling a kingdom, maybe there is hope for you and me.” It is clear that King David was intentional about quieting his soul. 

David is saying in verse 1 “I know there is a God and I am not him.” It is important to remember that, if we made a decision to allow God to rule our heart and lives, that HE is in control. “Ultimately, we aren’t in charge of our fate. We can’t control everything. Only God can! The principle here is this: if you want to have a calm, quiet soul, you have to recognize that you are not in control. That realization is fundamental to being healthy and peaceful on the inside. I am not in control. I am not in charge. Ultimately, I am not dictating my days. God, you have numbered my days. You have ordered my ways. I make my plans, but you direct my steps. Lord, I trust that you have my best interests in mind.”

“Quietness and rest are found not in control, but in surrender.” Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. – Isaiah 30:15

In verse 1, King David went on to say, “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” “Essentially, he is saying, “There’s a lot I don’t know. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know all the facts. I don’t understand everything. And I’m okay with that.” This is key, because it is coming from a king! And for me personally, this is where this chapter got really good. Pastor Smith talked about having a “God category” in your life. This is a “category where you put things that you don’t understand, that you don’t know, that you don’t trouble yourself with. What do you do with things that are too great and too marvelous for you and your finite, limited paradigm and perspective?” “David was making a profound statement about how to have a calm and quiet soul. He was saying, “I can’t know it all; and furthermore, I can’t handle it all.””

“That realization has never been more needed than in this age of instant information.  For example, I’m not so sure that we were designed to have these cellular devices with relentless simultaneous updates on every local, national, and global crisis.” 

Realistically though, isn’t this our life right now? We’re getting updates and notifications constantly- through news, radio, social media, friends, co-workers. “I don’t know if our souls have the capacity to comprehend and process all of the world’s tragedies. I know God does, but I don’t think we do. We are stewards of our own souls, by the grace of God, and we can set limits on what we listen to. Just because we can know something doesn’t mean we should know it or that we should fret and fixate on it.” “I don’t need to occupy my mind, will and emotions with issues that God hasn’t asked me to fix. Drawing lines and setting limits isn’t irresponsibility. It isn’t selfishness. It’s wisdom. It’s okay if we don’t know all the news and all the details. God is really good at being God. He knows everything, he is in control, and his grace is enough.”

Of course, when Pastor Smith wrote book this in 2016, he was not referring to COVID-19. But since that is where we are currently at, as I read this chapter, I found great peace in applying his points to my information intake and processing. At times, I have found myself with information overload, wanting more and more information, but then feeling quite overwhelmed with it as I acquired it. I liked his concept of the God category. Right now, there’s a lot of things I’m putting in the God category. And it was validating just to hear, ‘that’s ok.’ These days, I’m working on [Psalm 131] verse 2, But I have calmed and quieted my soul… 

How about you? How’s your soul right now? I know Luke always gives a challenge. My challenge to you is to take a moment right now and pray over these things while they are fresh in your head. Are there things you have tried to take control over that simply need surrendered to Jesus? Is there a burden you’re struggling to understand that just needs put in your God category? As I have been trying to calm and quiet my soul, it has helped me to focus on scripture. I have this verse sitting on my desk:

Now He is FAR ABOVE any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. Eph 1:21

Blessings to you all,