Facing Disappointment in The Quiet Place

Disappointment touches all of our lives. We grieve the loss of someone or some dream that has been shattered. Our expectations perhaps became imbalanced by reality, and we unwittingly set ourselves up for disappointment. 

At times such as these, we absolutely must find a quiet place to refresh and renew our spirit, and get grounded ... refocus. We need a pause in time to deal with the disappointment that has so enveloped our lives. 

Everyone needs a Quiet Place

Daily life tensions, and the demands of life, along with the unknowns of the future, create an unending tug of anxiety, and we can often feel a growing sense of unrest within. Life is full of pathways that lead to hardship, suffering and disappointment. 

All too often we seek to find short term counterfeit pleasure from happy circumstances. Many times we know very little of the true infusion of spiritual joy within, in spite of  tough times and adverse circumstances. We all long to find inner peace.

Sometimes we lose our way, or stand at a crossroad, unsure of which way to turn. Every day our minds are filled with distractions and pressures that trouble us. In reality they are just that...distractions. The world promises the key to happiness, but that key comes with a price, and the happiness promised is short term and empty of true meaning. We get ourselves set up to be disappointed time and time again.

Happiness depends on happy circumstances. There is a pattern that repeats itself in our lives. If your happenings don't happen to happen like you hope they happen, how can you be happy? Deep inside, most of us long for an inner peace that transcends tough circumstances; a peace that will see us through stressful times of duress, and chaotic periods of time pressure and seasons of disappointment.  

Finding your Quiet Place

I like to walk in the forest when the dew is fresh, when the world seems to be at a moment of hush. Times of chosen solitude centers us to be alone and still...to just enjoy God's creation... translating those moments of incredible solitude and peace into a quiet place with God.

The Quiet Place is a kind of spiritual counterpart to a walk in the forest. No matter where you are, or what you might be doing, my hope is that you can pause here and find encouragement, inspiration and hope.

The Quiet Place does have a biblical foundation.  In a post Edenic world,  Jesus Christ has provided for each of us direct access to the presence of God. It is only through Him that we can truly know God and enjoy communion with Him. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.

The disappointments and burdens of life are many, and they impact each of us differently, but in reality they are very similar. Wherever we may live on this planet, we share in common the reality that life is hard, struggles are painful, and we need an inner strength to rise from our beds each and every day and face the challenges that are before us.  God calls us wherever we are, and in whatever circumstance we are in to cultivate an intimate quiet time with Him.

The Quiet Place is to put Life on Pause 

We need to hit the pause button in life to stop the crazy spinning of everything that distracts us from stillness with God. He longs for us to joy in knowing Him, and drawing near to His heart.

"Be Still and Know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 

The Quiet Place has been created as an opportunity to seize a moment in time where we can stop the chaos and stress of  life, and reflect upon what is truly needed in each of our lives. We all need a time to meet with God to gain insight, needed perspective, and inner strength. We each long for God whether we realize it or not. That quiet desperation that resides within, creates a restlessness that is never satisfied until we find our way to meet with God.

The disciples knew what it was like to be exhausted, hungry, and overwhelmed with stress, fatigue, and the the demands of life.

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a Quiet Place, and get some rest.”  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” Mark 6:30-32

God Speaks in the Stillness of Special Moments

There are many examples in the Bible where God's gentlest whispers were only heard in quiet places.  Elijah along the brook Cherith, David in the cave at Adullam, Moses in the wilderness of Midian, and Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. They all met with God when alone and in The Quiet Place.

The burdens of life, when carried in our own strength, weakens our bodies, torments our minds, and deadens our spirit.  We often rush to the urgent tasks of our day, and miss the most important priority, which is a time of quiet worship with God. When we take the time to worship at His feet, and fellowship with Him, the result will be that we will find peace and spiritual renewal in The Quiet Place

The race of life, when run in our own strength,  leads each of us to a place of eventual exhaustion, a sense of being overwhelmed by life, and eventual burnout.

May we each be refreshed daily by our Gentle Shepherd as we meet with Him in The Quiet Place

Psalm 23

"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside Quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,  they comfort me.You prepare a table before me  in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Take a few moments to listen to this worshipful song  entitled Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli