The darkness of the night wraps itself around me
Yet my mind is cluttered with burdens of the day
My heart, my soul, be still — Be still my mind I say
The early sun awakens me before my eyes are opened
The day’s worries yet to be have already loudly spoken
What to wear, where to go, what to eat, all rain down upon me
In my head they swirl around screaming for attention
Wake up, make the coffee, catch the news, shower
Rouse the kids, make the beds, feed the dog, water
Hit the road, off to work, get a check, power
Car pool, dry cleaning, mail box, groceries, runner
Post-school happenings, I’m a taxi driver
Cook food, give a kiss to the man I married
Check homework, watch TV, everyone to bed
Off come my shoes, I finally take that breath
In the idleness of this busy-ness my mind takes over
The balance in the checkbook and the report from the doctor
The perceived offense from a friend, the problems of addictions
The family estranged away from me and words wrongly spoken
My own shortcomings, held in my head filled with much guilt and shame
All beat upon me without relent as torrential hard rain
Tension, stress, anxieties press upon me – I am overwhelmed
Then in the futileness of all these problems He reminds me….
One by one I shed all things I collected in the weather
Of this drenching thunderstorm laden world that I inhabit
I peel them off as layered clothes and robes no longer wanted
And naked without restraint I escape out from the climate
To the only place of harbor from the undulating winds
To the presence of the Father, in the shadow of His pinions
His strong tower, my refuge, and place of security
Always waiting open, through His Son, this doorway is to me
For I am the daughter of the Lord and King of Majesty
Through His door I run – there’s no other hope for me – I surrender
On my knees, I weep aloud and deposit all my burdens
And when my breath in exhaustion has finally cried it all
Upon my face I lay while I listen for Your still small voice
To thunder in my heart and soul as Your stillness takes ahold
It permeates and resonates throughout my mind once cluttered
Every cell it saturates with Your quietness recovered
In this silence is where I wait — confident You heard my tears
Wrapped and enveloped in the tranquility of Your embrace
I hear Your voice, the sound of many waters, the music of
Trumpets and harps played with skillful fingers, the clap of loud thunder,
The peacefulness deep in me and the knowing that I know
You speak to me in your calm, my shelter from the storm, I pray
My soul, my mind be still – Be still my heart, You say