April 7

"Their strength is to sit still." (Isa. 30:7)

In order really to know God, inward stillness is absolutely necessary. I remember when I first learned this. A time of great emergency had risen in my life, when every part of my being seemed to throb¹ with anxiety, and when the necessity for immediate² and vigorous action seemed overpowering; and yet circumstances were such that I could do nothing, and the person who could, would not stir.

For a little while it seemed as if I must fly to pieces with the inward turmoil³, when suddenly the still small voice whispered in the depths of my soul, "Be still, and know that I am God." The word was with power, and I hearkened. I composed my body to perfect stillness, and I constrained⁴ my troubled spirit into quietness, and looked up and waited; and then I did "know" that it was God, God even in the very emergency and in my helplessness to meet it; and I rested in Him. It was an experience that I would not have missed for worlds; and I may add also, that out of this stillness seemed to arise a power to deal with the emergency, that very soon brought it to a successful issue. I learned then effectually that my "strength was to sit still." --Hannah Whitall Smith.

There is a perfect passivity which is not indolence. It is a living stillness born of trust. Quiet tension is not trust. It is simply compressed anxiety.

Not in the tumult⁵ of the rending⁶ storm,

Not in the earthquake or devouring⁷ flame;

But in the hush⁸ that could all fear transform,

The still, small whisper to the prophet came.

O Soul, keep silence on the mount of God,

Though cares and needs throb around thee like a sea;

From supplications and desires unshod,

Be still, and hear what God shall say to thee.

All fellowship hath interludes of rest,

New strength maturing in each poise⁹ of power;

The sweetest Alleluias of the blest

Are silent, for the space of half an hour.

O rest, in utter quietude of soul,

Abandon words, leave prayer and praise awhile;

Let thy whole being, hushed in His control,

Learn the full meaning of His voice and smile.

Not as an athlete wrestling for a crown,

Not taking Heaven by violence of will;

But with thy Father as a child sit down,

And know the bliss¹⁰ that follows His "Be Still!"

--Mary Rowles Jarvis.

　 四月七日

“你们要安静，要知道我是神”（诗四十六：10）。

　　若要真认识神，内心的镇静是绝对必需的。我记得我当初怎样学习这功课，那时正有一件大难处临头，我焦急得全身颤动，所有的血管都紧张，事情又需要立即对付；可是四周的环境又不容我移动丝毫，可以帮助我的人，又不愿动作。

　　因着内心的纷乱，我的身体好象要四分五裂了，忽然一个微小的声音在灵的深处向我说：“你要安静，要知道我是神”。我接受了这真带有能力的劝告，于是镇定我的身体，约束我那搅乱的灵，使之安静，把我的急难交给神，仰望等候他；我觉得真有一股力量从镇静中出来应付难处。结果，事情平安过去，我自己在他里面得了安息。这是我最宝贝的经历，因为从此我更认识了神。——司密斯

　　这种不动，并不是懒惰，乃是从信心产生的一种活的镇静。如果紧张而不露声色，故作镇静，仍非信心的结果，不过是抑制住了焦虑而已，并非真正的镇静。

先知听见天上启示的声音，

并非在狂风暴雨的时辰，

也非地震或火灾之时，

神在万籁无声降临。

灵魂哪，在神的座前要安详，

你的忧困难如浪潮起伏，

在祈求与愿望中保持镇静，

盼听神启示你万全之方。

集中用力，需有间歇的休憩

每次静止，生出新的能力，

最美丽的赞颂乐曲，

其间也有短时间的默息。

休息吧，休息在肃静的灵里，

暂时把语言，思虑和行动搁起，

让整个身心，寂寞在神的控制中，

领会他一言一笑的全部意义。

不要像运动员争夺锦标，

要登天堂，不可凭意志的强暴，

像孩子似的陪你天父坐下，

要知道安静之后，就有幸福来到。

1 throb   

v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动

参考例句：

• She felt her heart give a great throb.她感到自己的心怦地跳了一下。
• The drums seemed to throb in his ears.阵阵鼓声彷佛在他耳边震响。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

4 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

5 tumult   

n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹

参考例句：

• The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
• His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。

6 rending   

v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破

参考例句：

• The cries of those imprisoned in the fallen buildings were heart-rending. 被困于倒塌大楼里的人们的哭喊声令人心碎。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She was rending her hair out in anger. 她气愤得直扯自己的头发。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 devouring   

吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• The hungry boy was devouring his dinner. 那饥饿的孩子狼吞虎咽地吃饭。
• He is devouring novel after novel. 他一味贪看小说。

8 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

9 poise   

vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信

参考例句：

• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise.她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。
• Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.芭蕾课对培养优雅的姿仪非常重要。

10 bliss   

n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福

参考例句：

• It's sheer bliss to be able to spend the day in bed.整天都可以躺在床上真是幸福。
• He's in bliss that he's won the Nobel Prize.他非常高兴，因为获得了诺贝尔奖金。