Sunday, August 17, 2008

Seeking Quiet

My heart is racing. My pulse is pounding. I'm agitated. My spirit. It's restless. Not at peace. I've been struggling with this for a few days and I can't seem to pinpoint why...or even what I'm struggling with. Or maybe I'm just not willing to pinpoint it. Is that it? I went searching for solace today. I went to a place that helps me block out the noise. A place for me to achieve clarity, seek perspective, and find peace. Usually quiet does that for me. Today the quiet was noisy, too. It felt like a fitful sleep. I was tossing and turning and getting nowhere. I've been longing for just a morsel of peace to sift through the noise to me. This one finally did.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17


25 comments:

Lynn said...

Oh, sweet friend, I pray that God will grant you peace, or that He will speak to you through the storm. I've been there too...

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4:8

BethAnne said...

I have so been there and for no apparent reason. What is up with that???? I will pray for some calm for you, my friend.

Anonymous said...

Hey Alana!
I just wanted to see how your migranes were doing. I hope they are feeling better!
~The Bargain Shopper Lady

Kenna Sue said...

Oh, I have been where you are! In fact, I'll take a trip there (quite against my will) every so often, and have no idea why. I consider it being bombarded by the enemy - like he's at the city walls, looking for a weak spot, and not letting up until it's found. Anything to get at me, and keep me from leading the life God wants me to lead. If that's what this is like for you, tell him to get away! I will pray for you to fimd some peace. It WILL come to you, just at the precise time you need it.

Growin' With It said...

i especially love the part that says he rejoices over you with singing. i hope just sharing this frustrating time will bring you peace and encouragement from lots of bloggers who care about you. hang in there!

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) said...

Oh, Alana, that Zephaniah verse is the only thing that's gotten me to sleep lately! A couple of weeks ago, a Milligan friend emailed me and asked me what she could pray for for me, and I told her I was having trouble sleeping. She sent me that verse, and then right before I read her email with the verse in it, I saw the same verse in a book I'm reading (He Loved Me, by Wayne Jacobsen).

God lulled me to sleep with his Zephaniah lullaby last night, too.

Blessings and peace in the name of Jesus, Alana!

Jamie said...

I will be praying for peace for you. I have this problem too sometimes. Love ya.

His Girl said...

I totally hear yah.. and that verse? I'm tucking it away for the next time i'm in that place...

prayin' for ya, friend!

Denise said...

your words are so honest, and reflect where many of us have been.
there is beauty here.
"the quiet being noisy, too" resonates with me.
what does it look like to be quieted by God's love??
i imagine it to be like a child being held by a Father...safe, sure.
does He speak, what does He say? or does He have to say anything, do you just know?
What is the song He sings over you?
rejoicing over you.
oh the wonder of it!
i pray that for you Alana,
that you just know who you are in Him, and breath, and rest, and find renewal there.

Janelle said...

That is one of my alltime favorites. I hope things are getting better. Do you need to talk? Please call me...

In the meantime, here is a hug!

Shelley said...

I can relate well to this right now. I love your verse. Beautiful. I hope you feel more peace today.

Fran said...

I've had to pray Colossians 3:15 over and over this past week. Look it up...it will bless you.

Praying peace my sweet friend.
Love,
Fran

beth said...

oh my goodness...that is one of my favorite verses! we all need to stop and listen to the restlessness of our souls from time to time. there is too much noise in our every day lives. i pray that God will meet you in the quiet this week (that He'll point you to the quiet first) and that He'll give you the calm and clarity you're aching for!

michelle said...

I've been feeling this way lately. I wonder if it is tied to school starting. You are in my prayers!

dawn said...

You are not alone, my friend.

Carissa said...

i love the honesty in your post! thank you friend! you are so real and that is SUCH a blessing!

Kristen said...

oh my friend - praying for you.

i've been there and need to find the quiet now as well.

i love that verse. thanks for sharing and being so honest!

Pennies In My Pocket said...

Awww I'm so sorry you're going through this. I will say a prayer for you. Hang in there...Your post reminded me that I must get quiet before the Lord and let His Spirit speak. Our world is so noisy.

~melody~

R said...

i think it's the diet doing it to you. :0) HA!

sorry...i couldn't help myself! didn't mean to make light of a serious situation. i think i can relate to what you're going through. and what a blessing that God met you right where you are with that verse! so cool how His Word is living, active and God-breathed.

Anonymous said...

I think this is a universal feeling for women. It comes and goes. It's hard to wait for peace to come again. Sometimes there is such a strong desire to sit still and THINK and... something. I know exactly what you mean.

As I've gotten older, those times come around less than they used to (they came around more often when I was the mother of YOUNG children!), but last February it hit again and I struggled with it off and on for a good month! One night at church another woman was sitting with me at dinner, and we were just chatting when she said, "I don't know why, but I just really don't want to be here - I've been in such a mood lately..." and we were able to talk about how these seasons are real and they do come and go.

I hope your peace is still running deep. Sometimes you just have to "do the next thing" until it comes for good.

Another great passage, the one I claim the most often in times like that, is Psalms 131.

Blessings,
Jen

Julie said...

I hope you have the CONTINUED peace of God. Thank you for sharing this verse, every line of it!

Growin' With It said...

just wanted you to know i was thinkin' about you today! BIG HUG!

Short Stop said...

I SO appreciate your honesty and openness. I love that verse, and I have many days/seasons that I feel like I'm seeking peace and just can't find it. Jesus is often the last One I run to. Thank you for sharing this. Thank you for being so vulnerable. It's one of the reasons I love reading what you write, and sharing in your life this way.

AnnaElizabeth said...

"Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save.
He is mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation.
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave. "

That is an amazing verse, and such an amazing song was written from it!
but anyway, I think everyone has that moment when peace is elusive and there's so much noise around us, it's hard to bear. But the Lord promises peace when we seek Him.
I've learned to seek His heart, not His hand. To seek His face, not His favor.
He always comes through, maybe just not when I want Him to.
Have a great week!
:-)

Rochelle said...

Okay... I am SO late in responding. I have been so busy lately... I hope you found the peace you needed.