At my father’s house in the country, there is a little closet near the chimney, where we keep the canes, or walking sticks, of several generations of our family. During my visits to the old house, as my father and I are going out for a walk, we often go to the cane closet and pick out our sticks to suit the occasion. As we have done this, I have frequently been reminded that the Word of God is a staff.

During the war, when we were experiencing a time of discouragement and impending danger, the verse “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 112:7 WNT) was a staff to walk with on many dark days.

When our child died and we were left nearly brokenhearted, I found another staff in the promise: “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 WNT).

When I was forced to be away from home for a year due to poor health, not knowing if God would ever allow me to return to my home and work again, I chose this staff, which has never failed: “For I know the plans I have for you, . . . plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

In times of impending danger or doubt, when human judgment seems to be of no value, I have found it easy to go forward with this staff: “In quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). And in emergencies, when there has been no time for deliberation or for action, this staff has never failed me: “He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16 KJV).

BENJAMIN VAUGHAN ABBOTT

Martin Luther’s wife said, “I would never have known the meaning of various psalms, come to appreciate certain difficulties, or known the inner workings of the soul; I would never have understood the practice of the Christian life and work, if God had never brought afflictions to my life.” It is quite true that God’s rod is like a schoolteacher’s pointer to a child, pointing out a letter so the child will notice it. In this same way, God points out many valuable lessons to us that we otherwise would never have learned. SELECTED

God always sends His staff with His rod.

“Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25 KJV).

Each of us may be sure that if God sends us over rocky paths, He will provide us with sturdy shoes. He will never send us on any journey without equipping us well.

Is there any note in all the music of the world as mighty as the grand pause? Is there any word in the Psalms more eloquent than the word “Selah,” meaning pause? Is there anything more thrilling and awe-inspiring than the calm before the crashing of the storm, or the strange quiet that seems to fall upon nature before some supernatural phenomenon or disastrous upheaval? And is there anything that can touch our hearts like the power of stillness?

For the hearts that will cease focusing on themselves, there is “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7); “quietness and trust” (Isaiah 30:15), which is the source of all strength; a “great peace” that will never “make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165); and a deep rest, which the world can never give nor take away. Deep within the center of the soul is a chamber of peace where God lives and where, if we will enter it and quiet all the other sounds, we can hear His “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12).

Even in the fastest wheel that is turning, if you look at the center, where the axle is found, there is no movement at all. And even in the busiest life, there is a place where we may dwell alone with God in eternal stillness.

There is only one way to know God: “Be still, and know.” “The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him” (Habakkuk 2:20).

All-loving Father, sometimes we have walked under starless skies that dripped darkness like drenching rain. We despaired from the lack of light from the sun, moon, and stars. The gloomy darkness loomed above us as if it would last forever. And from the dark, there spoke no soothing voice to mend our broken hearts. We would gladly have welcomed even a wild clap of thunder, if only to break the torturing stillness of that mournfully depressing night.

Yet Your soft whisper of eternal love spoke more sweetly to our bruised and bleeding souls than any winds that breathe across a wind harp. It was Your “gentle whisper” that spoke to us. We were listening and we heard You, and then we looked and saw Your face, which was radiant with the light of Your love. And when we heard Your voice and saw Your face, new life returned to us, just as life returns to withered blossoms that drink the summer rain.

"Desert sweetened." It was only a sign in a wayside fruit stand. But the golden grapefruit that it advertised took on new value! So will any life that follows the formula given by the Master: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31).

It was in the loneliness of desert reaches that some of the mightiest of the Old Testament prophets received their message: "Thus saith the Lord." In the desert Jesus met and mastered temptation. Out of a three-year desert retreat came Paul to be the greatest missionary of all time!

"Desert sweetened!" A quiet place at the beginning and the close of day. A "little chapel of silence"—"where, though the feet may join the throng, the soul may enter in and pray." Sunshine and silence—synonyms for the desert. May they bring special gifts of calm and courage and confidence—because we have kept our appointment with Christ in these moments of devotion! SELECTED

The road to the Promised Land of spiritual power always leads through desert places where "the still small voice" has a chance to be heard. GLENN RANDALL PHILLIPS

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide! Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus’ side! Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low; For when Satan comes to tempt me, to the secret place I go.

When my soul is faint and thirsty, ’neath the shadow of His wing There is cool and pleasant shelter and a fresh and crystal spring; And my Savior rests beside me, as we hold communion sweet: If I tried I could not utter what He says when thus we meet.

Only this I know: I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs, and fears. Oh, how patiently He listens! and my drooping soul He cheers.

Do you think He ne’er reproves me? What a false friend He would be If He never, never told me of the sins which He must see!

Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord? Go and hide beneath His shadow; this shall then be your reward.

And whenever you leave the silence of that happy meeting-place, You must mind and bear the image of the Master in your face. ELLEN LAKSHMI GOREH

We are to enter into God’s chamber, and hide there, and be still. Then God will call us “those who live quietly in the land.” Have this stamp upon you.

Be quiet outside—you will then be quiet inside. Be quiet in spirit. Beware of soul activities. The dross must be burned out to have the mountain vision. We must get back to God only, and cease to see the human instruments. Hide deeper in God. He must be real—more and more real! Hide with Christ in God at the Throne; be at the Spring of things!

“In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15 KJV). Set yourself to move everything through God, not man. Go direct to Him. Every step with God “in quietness and in confidence” gives you absolute victory over everything!

Keep in step with God.

Get quiet, beloved soul; tell out thy sorrow and complaint to God. Let not the greatest pressure of business divert thee from God. When men rage about thee, go and tell Jesus. Hide thee in His secret place when storms are high.

Get into thy closet, shut thy door, and quiet thyself as a weaned babe. But if thy voice is quiet to man, let it never cease to speak loudly and mightily for man.

We need to be quiet to get the ear of God!

’Mid all the traffic of the ways, Turmoils without, within, Make in my heart a quiet place, And come and dwell therein!

A little shrine of quietness, All sacred to Thyself, Where Thou shalt all my soul possess, And I may find myself!

JOHN OXENHAM

Pascal said: “One-half of the ills of life come because men are unwilling to sit down quietly for thirty minutes to think through all the possible consequences of their acts.”

It is always weakness to be fretting and worrying, questioning and mis-trusting. What can we do if we wear ourselves to skin and bone? Can we gain anything by fearing and fuming? Do we not unfit ourselves for action and unhinge our minds for wise decision? We are sinking by our struggles when we might float by faith.

Oh, for grace to be quiet! Why run from house to house to repeat the weary story which makes us more and more heart-sick as we tell it? Why even stay at home to cry out in agony because of wretched forebodings which may never be fulfilled? It would be well to keep a quiet tongue, but it would be far better if we had a quiet heart. Oh, to be still and know that Jehovah is God!

Oh, for grace to be confident in God! The holy One of Israel must defend and deliver His own. He cannot run back from His solemn declarations. We may make sure that every word of His will stand though the mountains should depart. He deserves to be confided in; and if we would display confidence and consequent quietness, we might be as happy as the spirits before the throne.

Come, my soul, return unto thy rest, and lean thy head upon the bosom of the Lord Jesus.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.

The effect of righteousness [shall be] quietness and assurance for ever.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come.

There remaineth . . . a rest to the people of God.—My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.—There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.—They . . . rest from their labours.

The forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.—In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Sit still, my daughter.

Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted.—Be still, and know that I am God.—Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?—The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

Mary . . . sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.—Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.—In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.—Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established.

He that believeth shall not make haste.