April 19

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. — Ps 37:7 BSB

It’s significant that in the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of service, we hear Jesus saying to His disciples, "Come away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." God wants rested workers. There is an energy that can be tireless and ceaseless, yet still, like the ocean’s depth, filled with the peace of God that passes all understanding.

The two deepest secrets of rest are, first, to be in harmony with God’s will, and second, to trust Him. "Great peace have those who love Your law," expresses the first, and "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You," describes the second.

Sometimes, we forget that to "stay" means to stop. It’s a blessing to stop all thought, especially when the devil bombards us with irritating questions. In those moments, we need to be absolutely still, refuse to engage, and answer the enemy with a simple, resounding "No!" If we remain still, God will give us peace.