Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalms 55:22 (NIV)
God desires for His light within us to shine brightly, particularly in the backdrop of the darkness of our unwelcomed circumstances. When there is darkness without, there still remains light within. We know that all He allows in the life of His heirs of mercy is for their ultimate good. Further, the Holy Spirit can make the believer independent of their outward circumstances – dire as they perhaps may be. There can be a warring without yet peace within. This is the believers crown – that they may shine His light in the deepest darkness. We can be calm even when the world shakes because we know Who is on the Throne and that He loves us with an everlasting love. Even death itself cannot suspend the music of a believer’s heart. He will keep us in perfect peace as our minds remain steadfastly fixed upon Him. Also, we are promised in Scripture all He allows will be for our ultimate good and His glory – one never surpassing the other. Our confidence is in Him to take us “from strength to strength” as we pass through our “Valley of Baca’s” (tears). He is ever faithful to His own.
When the earth shakes and the foundations of the mountains removed we can stay calm as even death itself has no power to halt the music in the believer’s heart. When there is no outward cause of rejoicing those who are His can still remain joyful and hopeful. He takes us from “strength to strength” as we rest secure in Him. Earth is not our home, heaven is. And even in death our earthly songs will melt into a heavenly chorus. We can stand firm through the shaking of our worlds and all the terrible influences so rampant in our day as we keep our eyes fixed upon Him. The music in the Christian’s heart can play on and on - perhaps even sweeter and clearer. Scripture tells us in Psalms 126:5-6 (NIV): “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”
As believers in sweet Jesus, we can remain calm even as the earth shakes and the foundations of the mountains are removed. Even in death – with all its terrible trappings cannot suspend the music of the believers’ heart. Rather makes it clearer and more heavenly as our temporal joys are turning into an eternal bliss which far outweighs them all. Yes, believers can remain content when all outward joys are removed as we have the all sufficient One within. It is never Jesus plus something else. It is simply only Jesus. Contentment is a learned secret.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)