"Be still, be still,” He said to me.

"But Father, do you not see?

I must pray, as I do, at the end of the day,

'Pray constantly,' did You not say?

 

"Father, I'm weary,

My days feel quite dreary,

As I struggle to follow your will,

'Tis quite hard to simply 'be still.'

 

"I try and I sigh,

But quite often I cry,

Out to You with distress,

For quite frankly, my life is a mess!

 

"Come to me,"  You have said,

"Receive rest for your head!"

I come,  Father, I come,

Yet of rest I am lacking some.

 

"Dear child, dear child,

My commands are more mild,

Than you would make them to be,

If only, beloved, you would truly see!

 

"You have become weighed down,

By things which make me frown,

By rules of which I do not speak,

These things which make you weak.

 

"These things as 'you must pray

Or read your Bible daily,’ may

As you have found,

Bring you to the ground.

 

"For nowhere have I said -

Oh, you are so misled! -

'Read your Bible every day,'

Or 'your worship you must display.'

 

"All I ask, beloved mine,

Is let the need which once was thine,

Be always laid before my Throne,

And cease your endless moan.

 

"My yoke is easy, and burden light,

So you have no need to fight,

The sleep which pulls your mind,

which I have given to mankind.

 

"For in your sleep you show,

A rest on me, for you know,

I slumber not, have you forgot?

In rest you declare 'I am not.'

 

"My love, be not weighted down,

With the things that make me frown,

But rather, love, obey,

And by my side, please, stay!

 

'Be still, be still,' He said to me,

And finally I think I see

The things which I have made my god,

Not Him, but a mere facade.

 

Futile was the rest I sought,

Which not by love but works was bought.

For all He asks is love and need,

Not worthless, empty deed.

 

'Be still,' He says again,

And my heart replies 'Amen,'

As I lie my rest to take,

And my need at his feet forsake.

 

For His yoke is easy, His burden light,

And from our trying, a respite,

As we learn to love His will,

And say to Him, 'I am still!'