“Calmness can lay great errors to rest.” Ecclesiastes 10:4 NIV

There are very few who find calmness to be a quality that they naturally possess. Most of us find ourselves fraught or distraught at times and the danger with this is that it encroaches into our spiritual lives and affects our relationship with God.

Whatever the problem might be, whether it’s a house full of young children or a stressful job, we need to develop the quality of calmness so that we can learn to remain in Christ and continue at our post. The full verse says:

“If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest.”

The Oxford dictionary says calmness is ‘The state or quality of being free from agitation or strong emotion. The state or condition of being free from disturbance.’

I have known a mother to leave her post when upset in a situation: she left her children without a meal. I have known someone leave a job that they loved because they were so upset by their colleagues. I have known people who refused to attend church because they were offended by another. All these situations describe people who have left their posts. It is given to us to hold steady no matter what is happening at home, at work, at church or amid our family circumstances. Jesus said:

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Matt 10:37 NLT

Let nothing disturb you so much that your relationship with Christ is affected and you walk away from your spiritual responsibilities. Whether it be a small insignificant issue that gets under your skin and irritates you, or whether it be an insurmountable problem, work hard at maintaining your peace throughout it all. He needs to be the most important person to you. He will provide a way through all your difficulties and will give you the strength and calmness to remain at your post if you put Him first.

“Calmness can lay great errors to rest.” Remaining calm and in Christ often disperses trouble before it has time to materialise. The divisive destructive work the enemy set out to accomplish fails because the servants of the Lord have learned the secret of remaining calm and standing strong at their post.

This week, no matter what, remain at your post calmly, trusting He will work it all out.