There are depths in the ocean, I am told, which no tempest ever stirs—beyond the reach of all storms that sweep and agitate the surface of the sea.

And there are heights in the blue sky above, to which no cloud ever ascends, where no tempest ever rages, where all is perpetual sunshine, where naught exists to disturb the deep serenity. Even at the center of the cyclone there is rest.

Each of these is an emblem of the soul which Jesus visits, to whom He speaks peace, whose fear He dispels, whose lamps of hope He trims.

During the test of a submarine it remained submerged for many hours. When it had returned to the harbor, the commander was asked: “Well, how did the storm affect you last night?” The Commander looked at him in surprise and said: “Storm? We knew nothing of any storm!”

Dwell deep. When doubts assail and stealthy shadows creep Across your sky, and fill you with a sense of doom, And thunders roar, and lightnings frighten with their glare, And old foundations seem to crumble ’neath your feet, Dwell deep and rest your soul amid eternal things.

Upon the surface storms may rage, and billows break On every beach of life, and fling disaster Far and wide; but if your soul is dwelling quiet In the depths, naught can harm you evermore. Therefore Dwell deep, and rest your head upon the heart of God.

“When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:29 KJV).

He gives quietness in the midst of the raging storm. As we sail the lake with Him, reaching deep water and far from land, suddenly , under the midnight sky, a mighty storm sweeps down. Earth and hell seem mobilized against us, and each wave threatens to overwhelm our boat. Then He rises from His sleep and rebukes the wind and the waves. He wave s His hand, signaling the end of the raging tempest and the beginning of the restful calm. His voice is heard above the screaming of the wind through the ropes and rigging, and over the thrashing of the waves.

“Quiet! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). Can you not hear it? And instan tly there is a great calm. “He giveth quietness”— quietness even in the midst of losing our inner strength and comforts . Sometimes He removes these because we make too much of them. We are tempted to look at our joys, pleasures, passions, or our dreams, with too much self-satisfaction. Then through His gracious love He withdraws them, leading us to distinguish between them and Himself. He draws near and whispers the assurance of His presence, bringing an infinite calm to keep our hearts and minds. “He giveth quietness.”

“He giveth quietness.” O Elder Br other , Whose homeless feet have pr essed our path of pain, Whose hands have borne the bur den of our sorr ow, That in our losses we might find our gain.

Of all Y our gifts and infinite consolings, I ask but this: in every tr oubled hour To hear Y our voice thr ough all the tumults stealing, And r est ser ene beneath its tranquil power .

Cares cannot fr et me if my soul be dwelling In the still air of faith’ s untr oubled day; Grief cannot shake me if I walk beside you, My hand in Y ours along the darkening way .

Content to know ther e comes a radiant morning When fr om all shadows I will find r elease; Serene to wait the raptur e of its dawning— Who can make tr ouble when Y ou send me peace?

The calm sea says more to the thoughtful soul than the same sea in a storm and tumult. But we need the understanding of eternal things, and the sentiment of the Infinite to be able to feel this.

Napoleon, with his arms crossed over his breast, is more expressive than the furious Hercules beating the air with his athletic fists.

People of passionate temperament never understand this. AMIEL’S JOURNEY

The lovely things are quiet things Soft falling snow , And feathers dropped from flying wings Make no sound as they go.

A petal loosened from a rose, Quietly seeks the ground, And love, if lovely, when it goes, Goes without sound.

The silent seasons of life are imperative. The winter is the mother of spring; the night is the fountain of the physical forces of the day; the silent soil is the womb where vegetable life is born. The greatest things in our spiritual life come out of our waiting hours, when all activity is suspended and the soul learns to be “silent unto God” while He shapes and molds us for future activities and fruitful years.

The greatest forces in nature are quiet ones. The law of gravitation is silent, yet invincible. So, back of all our activities and actions, the law of faith is the mightiest force of the spiritual world, and mightiest when quietest and least demonstrative. When the soul is anchored to the will of God and His exceeding great and precious promises, with the calm unwavering confidence that His power and love are behind us and can never fail us until all His will for us is accomplished, our life must be victorious.

In the center of the whirlpool, while the waters rush around, There’s a space of perfect stillness, though with turmoil it is bound: All is calm, and all is quiet, scarcely e’en a sense of sound. So with us—despite the conflict—when in Christ His Peace is found.

There is no other real peace; how comparatively few know the secret. God’s noiseless workers own His calm control. NORA C. USHER

We need not be noisy if we are sure. MARY E. SHANNON

Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil! And God granted him that which he requested.

The blessing of the Lord , it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.—When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?

Salvation belongeth unto the Lord : thy blessing is upon thy people.—How great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men.—I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.—The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.