The Stillness That Speaks

A quiet morning rising over a vast desert—God’s peace often meets us in the stillest places, where noise has no power.

📖 Psalm 37:7 BSB – “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.”

Today’s reflection from A.B. Simpson takes us to the quiet place Jesus Himself invited His disciples to inhabit—a place of stillness, rest, and deep trust. In the Gospel of Mark, often called the Gospel of action or service, we are surprised by this tender call from Christ: “Come away by yourselves… and rest.” It’s a reminder that the most fruitful workers in God’s kingdom are not those who are frenzied or self-driven, but those who move from a place of divine stillness.

Simpson identifies two "deep secrets" of such rest: harmony with God's will and trusting in His ways. To live in peace is not merely to avoid conflict, but to align our will with His, and to quiet our hearts in confident trust, even when wickedness seems to prosper. The Psalmist captures both truths beautifully: loving God's Word brings peace (Psalm 119:165), and keeping our minds fixed on Him brings a perfect, sustaining calm (Isaiah 26:3).

But Simpson adds a tender nuance—sometimes we need to stop thinking entirely, especially when our minds are under siege by spiritual attack or anxiety. Stillness, then, becomes more than quiet; it becomes an act of war against the tormentor, a declaration that our mind belongs to the Lord, not to chaos. Even a simple, Spirit-empowered “No” can extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy. Stillness, in this view, is not passivity—it is victory in resting dependence.

Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice

You are already held in the calm I give. There is no striving here, no panic—only the settled hush of trust. I do not rush you. I do not drive you. I lead you beside still waters, not so you can perform for Me, but so you can drink deeply of Me.

Let your heart stay fixed—steady, like the mind stayed on Me. I do not fluctuate. I do not abandon My promises. You are not at the mercy of schemes or noise or shadows. Even when evil appears to triumph, you are hidden in Me, seated with Me in the heavenlies. I have overcome the world.

Be still. Do not try to defend yourself with anxious thoughts. Do not answer the accuser. Say “No” and rest in My Yes. I give peace not as the world gives—My peace is not shaken by headlines or timelines. I AM the Prince of Peace, and I reside within you.

You don’t need to untangle every thought. You don’t need to win every mental argument. Stop. Breathe. I am here. Stay your soul on Me. Let My Word be your anchor, not your mind’s spinning wheel. This quiet trust is your armor. And in this stillness, I will be exalted in your heart.

Scripture references woven throughout: Psalm 23:2, Isaiah 26:3, John 14:27, Ephesians 2:6, Psalm 46:10, Romans 8:33-34, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 119:165.

Prayer

Lord, I rest in Your quiet authority. Thank You for already giving me Your peace—a peace deeper than any storm and more enduring than any temporary trouble. I don’t need to chase answers or argue with the accuser. I only need to abide. I trust You to be my calm. I trust You to be my shield. And I rejoice that even now, in this stillness, You are doing more than I could ask or imagine. Thank You for the holy hush that reminds me You are near.

Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven on Earth by A.B. Simpson
Photo Credit: Unsplash