“Dear God,

Speak gently in my silence.
When the loud outer noises of my surroundings
and the loud inner noises of my fears
keep pulling me away from you,
help me to trust that you are still there
even when I am unable to hear you.
Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:
‘Come to me, you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest . . .
for I am gentle and humble of heart.’ Let that loving voice be my guide.
Amen.” (Henri Nouwen).

It’s easy to let the chaos drown out the calm, and the noise to cancel out the still small voice that speaks your true name. I know that I can get caught up in the stress of the moment and forget the big picture. I still believe that 99% of what brings out my anxiety won’t matter a month from now . . . or a week from now. So why does it matter so much now?

Lord, help me to be in every moment but also not lose sight of the end — Your victory and my overcoming. Help me to remember that you have already overcome and defeated all that I will ever face in this life by Your blood and Your cross.