Quiet life offers path to peace

In Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song “Beautiful Racket,” she writes, “You used to have dreams of setting the world on fire, now all you want is peace of mind.” How many people does that describe in our frantic society?

The truth is, peace and quiet is a directive from God and a recipe for a happy life. The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, mind your own business and work with your hands as we told you.”

Outside of scripture, the word ambition is commonly used in the context of achieving a lofty goal that will get us some worldly notoriety. But in this scripture, ambition is spoken of as something that would keep us under the radar.

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, was not done trying to get us to understand this truth, as he goes on to point out in his second letter to the Thessalonians to “not be idle but to work quietly.” He wrote to Timothy, and to us, to “pray for all those in authority so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life.”

There is a pattern developing here. Wisdom would say follow the pattern. Proverbs 17:1 says, “Better a dried-up crust that is eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting but has conflict all around.”

Quiet is not only a good prescription for a peaceful and respectable life, but also a handy tool when wanting God’s deliverance in tough times. While being chased by the Egyptians, the escaping Israelites complained to Moses that it would have been better to stay in Egypt and continue in slavery.

Moses had some nice words for them but also a rebuke: “Don’t be afraid, stand firm and you’ll see God’s deliverance. The Lord will fight for you, but you must be quiet.”

When we want God’s help in the battle, our complaining will serve no purpose except to rob us of the very faith we need to gain deliverance. The lesson is obvious: Have no fear, God will fight for you, and zip the lip.

Whether it’s everyday life or the battle of a lifetime, the command is clear: “Quiet on the set please!” It’s one of the Lord’s prime ingredients for a peaceful and victorious life.

Ken Staley is pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove, 9:30 a.m., and Harrisville Methodist Church, 11 a.m. Both are Global Methodist congregations. He can be reached at PastorKenStaley@gmail.com.