It had been a wearying five days even for me who thrived on being busy. With two sets of supper company, a run to the city, supper plans another night, and hot lunch at school, I had my days filled up. I was trying to get some much needed sewing done in between it all plus keep my house and laundry in some semblance of order. 

The night before, I had proclaimed to anyone listening that I would not be making any supper the following evening. I had just experienced kitchen burnout. Truth be told, I didn’t want to be doing anything the next evening besides relaxing in my chair but I knew that was pushing the limits a little too far.

That morning on the way into town, I was already feeling the busyness of the day ahead and instead of filling my mind with other things, I began to sing any song that came to me in the moment. And while they all touched my heart in some way, it was “Near to the Heart of God” by Cleland Boyd McAfee that stilled my soul and was just what I needed.

It speaks of there being a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God. A place where we our Savior meet near to the heart of God. I sang it softly and with feeling as I let the words wash over my soul. Then as I sang the chorus, my heart snagged on the last part. “Hold us, who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.”

I wasn’t expecting to get emotional that morning. I hadn’t even felt it coming on. But at the words of that beautiful promise, something inside me melted. “Hold us, who wait before Thee.” How thankful I am that we have a God who will hold us. 

As I rip out yet another seam in the dress I’m working on, He holds me. When my beans for the evening gathering don’t turn out and I end up starting over, He holds me. When I’m asked to do yet another task on top of all my others, He holds me even as I add it to my to-do list. 

When my dad-in-law has surgery and my hubby wants to take yet another evening to go see him at the hospital, He holds me and gives me a great calm while the work is left at home. He holds me while I walk, He holds me while I drive, He holds me as I wait for Him.

I can come before Him in the morning and pray that He will be with me through the day, and as I wait for Him to fill me every moment instead of getting filled with anxious thoughts, I feel Him there, holding me. He holds me near to his heart, right where He can care for me as a good Father does.

The last verse says, “There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God” and when I first sang it, I said “full retreat” before I remembered what it was. And how neat a thought. We can run to Him for comfort. We can leave the worries in the kitchen or the sewing room or wherever they may be and retreat fully to his waiting arms. There, alone with Him, we can find that place of full release. And as we release it all to Him, we can go about our day. And the things that should seem overwhelming, we find doable, as He holds us near to the heart of God.