Longing for the Lord in Silence, July 6
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Tom Corbell
“My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2 AMPC).
It has been said that the perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. In the silence we might listen to the prompting of the Spirit and possibly hear a word from the Lord.
In today’s verse the psalmist says, “My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.” Can you picture yourself standing in God’s presence? The prophet Isaiah tells us if we were standing in the Lord's court, we would see Him sitting on a throne, high and lifted up and the train of His robe filling the temple. Above Him would be six mighty angels singing, "Holy, holy, holy...." (See Isaiah 6:1-3.) As Christians we sing songs, read scripture, and even hear sermons about the presence of the Lord. But do we seek it? Can you feel your soul yearning for it? What if you did? What would change in your life if your soul yearned for God’s presence now? Today?
Cancer can bring many things into our minds that we should not be thinking about. To avoid these thoughts, we fill our days with noise—noise from televisions, tablets, phones, and the list goes on. With unwelcome thoughts hovering beyond our view, it’s easy to be hesitant to sit in silence.
And yet, think of the psalmist and Isaiah. Did they long for the presence of the Lord while watching a news update or checking their phone for new posts? Probably not.
That kind of longing is often discovered in the sacredness of silence. Silence is an experience, and an art form, that even people without the struggle of cancer are often uncomfortable experiencing. And so we fill our ears and hearts with endless sounds that distract us from the source of truth and the peace found in Jesus.
Do you pray for the Lord to bring you peace? Relief? Strength? Courage? Understanding? The answer to these prayers may come through seeking the presence of God through silence.
Try finding a quiet place, then repeating in your mind a verse like this one: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a NIV). Relax and allow yourself to repeat these words until you are comfortable with the silence. Then picture yourself with the Lord. Stay. Breathe in the presence of the Lord and stay.
Don’t let the pressure of cancer’s negative thoughts keep you from the peace and awe to be found in the Lord’s presence. You may notice in today’s verse the psalmist says he is “homesick” for the presence of the Lord. Breathing in the peace of the Lord in this life is but a glimpse of our wondrous Home in the presence of our heavenly Father.
Pray: Lord, quiet my soul in Your presence with the stillness of a wise trust. Lift me above dark moods and the shadow of sin, that I may find Your will for my life and peace for my soul. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Your Turn: As suggested above, try finding a quiet place and repeating in your mind a verse like Psalm 46:10a: “Be still and know that I am God.” Relax and allow yourself to repeat these words until you are comfortable with the silence. Then picture yourself with the Lord. Stay. Breathe in the presence of the Lord and stay.
Tom Corbell, Hospice Pastor
Tom is a Lutheran pastor who has served Jesus in both North and South Carolina for forty-nine years. Six of those years he worked as a Hospice Chaplain, and he encountered cancer daily. The privilege of praying, working with and supporting cancer patients and their families is an honor.
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