Song Deep Dive: Psalm 131 (Keep My Heart Calm)
About Psalm 131
Psalm 131 is a quiet and humble prayer, a song that invites us into the rare gift of contentment before the LORD. In this psalm, David speaks to his own soul, admitting that his heart is not proud and that he does not concern himself with things too great or too wonderful for him. Instead, he describes himself as a child resting safely with its mother, calm and content. Many believers find this psalm challenging because contentment does not always come easily. We often approach Scripture at moments when our hearts feel anything but calm. Psalm 131 shows us that honesty before God is part of worship. When we cannot sing “I am content,” we can pray, “LORD, make my heart calm” and trust Him to shape our desires. This psalm also shifts direction at the end, turning from self-reflection to encouragement: “O Israel, put your hope in the LORD.” It reminds us that contentment grows as we place our confidence in Him. Psalm 131 invites us to rest in the LORD as our portion, to seek the peace only He can give, and to make contentment not a feeling we force but a daily prayer that He graciously answers.
Psalm 131
A song of ascents.
1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.
Stephen's Thoughts
What do you do when you read a verse like Psalm 131 that says, “I have calmed and quieted myself,” but you do not feel calm or quiet at all? That was the problem I faced when I began writing this song. I originally wrote a peaceful melody to match David’s words, but it felt false in the moment. My life did not sound like that melody.
So, I followed the same advice I often give others. When your life does not match Scripture, turn the Scripture into a prayer. I changed the direction of the song and offered it to the LORD, singing, “Keep my heart calm, O LORD. Still and quiet my soul.”
The new melody has a driving blues feel, and somehow it helps me slow down. This song became an arrow prayer for me. Every time the melody repeats, I find myself saying to the LORD, “Keep my heart calm.” In the end, the blues version feels more truly peaceful than the gentle melody I started with.
Listen to Psalm 131 (Keep My Heart Calm)
Musical Credits
Stephen Vesolich (Vocals, Guitar, Banjo)
Stephenie Wisley (Vocals)
Levi Stahl (Drums)
Thomas Catanzarite (Bass)
Lyrics
Keep my heart calm, O LORD
Keep my heart calm, O LORD
Still and quiet my soul
Still and quiet my soul
I put my hope in You, LORD
I put my hope in You, LORD
Both now and forevermore
Both now and forevermore
Keep my heart calm, O LORD
Keep my heart calm, O LORD
Oh, let me be content
Oh, let me be content
I put my hope in You, LORD
I put my hope in You, LORD
Both now and forevermore
Both now and forevermore
I put my hope in You, LORD
I put my hope in You, LORD
I put my hope in You, LORD
I put my hope in You, LORD
Both now and forevermore
Both now and forevermore
Both now and forevermore
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