Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him

The Gospel of Mark, which is the gospel of service, contains a very suggestive thought. We hear the Master saying to His disciples, Come ye apart into a desert place, and rest a while (Mark 6:31). It is possible to possess an energy that may be tireless and ceaseless, and yet still as the ocean's depth. It is possible to know the peace of God which passes all understanding. The two deepest secrets of rest are to be in harmony with the will of God and to trust. Great peace have they that love thy law (Psalm 119:165), expresses the first. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3), describes the second. There is much involved in learning to "stay." Sometimes we forget that it literally means to stop. It is a great blessing even to stop all thought. Often, the only way to counter the devil's whirlwind of irritating questions and thoughts is to be absolutely still, to refuse even to think and to meet his evil voice with a simple and everlasting No! If we will be still, God will give us peace.