Safe and Sane

10.08.11

Psalm 131.2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother;    like a weaned child I am content. NIV

What do we do when waves of worry begin to mount and roll over us? How do we respond when our mind goes off on a tangent and the winds of worry begin to form the storm clouds of fear? It should be then that we find ourselves engaged to fight through them and call out to the Lord.

What is the difference between a weaned child and a helpless infant? Well, age for one; maturity for another; and a focus other than only hunger for another. A weaned child has moved past the stage of continually crying out: FEED ME NOW! A weaned child is more self-sufficient than an infant and is able, at least in some small measure, to exercise some self-control knowing that when hunger assails, mommy is there to help him deal with it.

The psalmist, David, obviously observed small children and saw the differences in the way they acted and reacted. He had children of his own and took note of how they acted. When he wrote this psalm may have been going through a time of difficulty and these thoughts about children came into his mind. It seems like David always had something difficult going on and he saw the value in giving it all to God much like a weaned child gives it over to mom. Weaned children are not without their whininess, but they do cooperate with mom on a level that infants can’t.

It takes work to mature and to learn to calm and quiet oneself like a weaned child with its mother. It takes work to learn to be content. For some it comes quicker than for others but the important thing is that we all learn it at some point. Learned contentment is not easily unseated by difficulties; it slowly becomes more resolved than ever that in the midst of trying circumstances, God, Alone, will come to our rescue – either through additional training or through relief and proper understanding. God desires that we learn how to become like weaned children: calm, quiet and content; steadfastly trusting in Him for our every need.

The NIV uses the word wonderful to describe David’s state of mind as he sang this psalm. Wonderful here isn’t the same as wonderful in modern language. Wonderful in this psalm meant, something too big to think about. Some things are just beyond our ability to figure out and so the comfort of David’s words here is let’s just leave the outcome to God and trust Him in these things that are too big for us to comprehend. The truth is they aren’t too big for God.

And right here, as a child of the infinite and living God, is where I want to land and remain: God, some things are just too big for me to handle, but they aren’t for You and I am going to trust You for the outcome – I’m going to quiet and calm my soul like a weaned child with its mother; not worrying about the next meal, or my next move, but trusting that You have the bases already covered. Father, it’s my only safe and sane option…