Settle down.

I heard those words so many times during my childhood. As bedtime approached, mom and dad would call us in and quiet us down. It did not matter what was going on outside or in the world at large. It was time to settle.

One of my favorite verses talks about settling. It is I Peter 5:10 –

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

When I read this verse, I think about a mother settling her infant or a dad quieting his child. I think of the calmness that is found in my Father’s arms, no matter what is happening in this world.

This verse is not all good news – it admits that there will be suffering, but the suffering is not the end of the story; it is the beginning of the promise. God knows when the suffering will end.

His promise at the end of the suffering?

• He will perfect or complete His work in me.
• He will stablish, fix me firmly in place, establish, me.
• He will strengthen me, and
• He will settle me.

Paul puts it this way:

Romans 8:¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

This world is full of suffering, and some days the trials are hard to take. I want to accept Christ’s invitation to come to Him. I want to allow Him to strengthen me and settle me.

I remember the sweet sleep of childhood after mom and dad settled us into bed. Today I want to settle into my Father’s arms. They are waiting for me.

They are waiting for you.

Matthew 11: ²⁸ Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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.

Photo – Acadia National Park, Beth Mims