Psalm 131

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, my heart is not proud;
    my eyes are not haughty.
I don’t concern myself with matters too great
    or too awesome for me to grasp.
² Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
    like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
    Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
    now and always.

Dear God, I love the sentiment of this psalm. “I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself.” As I sit here on this Monday morning, using the extra time I was given this weekend to pray to you before work, I think about calming and quieting myself before you. About letting go of all of the things I think I need to solve and simply embracing this moment.

There are all kinds of things that disquiet my heart. Things I don’t totally understand. Broken relationships is a big one. There are relationships in my life that are broken, and I don’t understand them. Perhaps they are too great for me to grasp. So instead I will calm and quiet myself before you. There is a lot of work to do at my job. There are a lot of needs that must be met. But the doing of all of it at once is far beyond me. No, I need to quiet myself and be here in this moment and each moment throughout the day. There are things happening in the broader world–from wars in Ukraine and Israel to political fights on national, state, and local levels–that are much too awesome for me to grasp.

As I think about David writing this psalm for himself and for pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem, I think about what must have been on their minds. Wars with the Philistines. Sicknesses that they didn’t know how to heal. But the act of worship was to let it all go and just be with you. To sit in your lap and rest.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to carry this spirit into my day today. Holy Spirit, thank you for being with me, including when I was driving home Saturday night. I know it was you who nudged me. I am grateful. So please…I know you are with me all day. Help me to hear you, see you, and worship you. Help me to experience your peace in the midst of the sorrow that constantly follows my heart. And be with me as I interact with each person. Give me your wisdom, love, and discernment.

I pray all of this through the name of Jesus,

Amen