May 5, 2026
— Mildred Cable & Francesca French · Source: Through Jade Gate and Central Asia (1927), ch. "Gobi Nights"
Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, said: “In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and trust will be your strength”; but you yourselves refused.
We often mistakenly believe that busyness is a badge of piety, unaware that our relentless pursuit of tasks often causes us to miss our connection with God. Travelling by night across the Gobi, Mildred Cable found that the desert's silence readjusts what we value; true strength lies not in increasing the weight of our work, but in returning to the rest of our souls. When we let go of the anxiety of trying to control the situation and choose to be still before God, the will obscured by trivial matters will gradually become clear. Today, try to pause, cultivate an altar in the desert of your heart, and only by first being with the Lord will our actions have eternal value.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me into rest in this noisy world. Lord, forgive me for often falling into "Martha's" anxiety, worrying and fretting over many trivial matters, forgetting the "blessing" of sitting at Your feet to listen to Your word. Grant me a desert-like tranquility, take away the vain busyness in my heart, and let me regain strength in peace and security. Guide my steps with the Holy Spirit, so that I may not only work for You, but also live in Your presence at all times. May Your will be like light, illuminating every detail of my journey. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.