Does your life resemble the spinning cycle of a washing machine right now? Are you weary, busy, or worried today? Perhaps you’ve had a tension headache this week about a job situation or family crisis? Maybe you’re chewing off your finger nails while you survey the latest piece of national chaos?
When the people of Judah were tempted to make an alliance with Egypt to ward off the growing threat of an Assyrian invasion, they were obviously nervous and afraid. In their state of anxiety, they refused to solely trust in the only One who could deliver them. Listen to these words of promise and comfort:
“For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15a)
But they did not listen.
“But you were not willing, and you said, ‘No, for we will flee on horses,’ (Isaiah 30:15b-16a)
Caught in the Cycle
We get caught in the same sort of cycle; don’t we? No, we don’t hop on a horse and ride out of Dodge. But we flee to fear-driven methods for rescue. We walk around like a nervous wreck with no relief. We refuse to turn back to the Sovereign One and quietly rest.
Yet all the while, God is with us. He sees it all and knows it all. And He is saying:
“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.” (Isaiah 30:18)
Repentance. Rest. Quietness. Trust.
Those are words that characterize the person who longs for God and has full faith in God. Notice how there is a longing that goes both ways in verse 18 above. Our loving, pursuing God longs to pour out grace on us and those who long for Him receive His genuine peace… blessing.
So in the middle of our mess or nervousness (I have a few concerns swirling around right now, too), let’s remember:
He is good. He is sovereign. We can trust Him today.
In God’s Vineyard,
