The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
Blessed Quietness
One of my favorite hymns growing up was “Blessed Quietness”. The lyrics reflect absolute trust in the fact of salvation, the presence of the Comforter (i.e., the Holy Spirit) making “the trusting heart His home”, and the resulting fruit of righteousness that grows in each believer. It is the third person of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) who indwells us at salvation, bringing the peace and joy promised in Scripture and communicating our prayers to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ promised this Comforter in John 14, 15 and 16:
John 14:15-17 – “If you love me, keep my commandments and I will pray the Father [who] shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever. [He is] even the Spirit of truth who the world cannot receive because it sees him not, neither knows Him. But you know him for he dwells with you and shall be in you.”
John 14:25-27 – “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 15:26 – 26 – “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of me.”
John 16:7-15 – “It is necessary for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin because they believe not on me, of righteousness because I go to my Father and you will see me no more, and of judgment because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of himself but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify me for He shall receive of me, and shall show it unto you.
The practical outcome of the Comforter/Spirit-of-truth in us is summed up in the final stanza and chorus of “Blessed Quietness”:
What a wonderful salvation, where we always see His Face. What a perfect habitation, what a quiet resting place.
Blessed quietness, holy quietness. What assurance to my soul.On the stormy sea He speaks peace to me. How the billows cease to roll.
Update/ Prayer Request: Dan now has about two good days for each day of feeling very ill. His sleep continues to be interrupted frequently by coughing and digestive issues. Dan’s PET scan is scheduled for next Thursday, June 14, but we will not have any information until we see the doctor the following week. Thank you for continuing to pray for Dan’s return to complete health and for me as I deal with insurance issues complicated by Dan’s change in status, having retired.
