In Quietness
“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.’ But you were not willing, and you said, ‘No, for we will flee on horses;’ therefore, you shall flee! ‘And we will ride on swift horses;’ therefore, those who pursue you shall be swift.” (Isaiah 30:15-16)
The first part of this verse has always been a comfort to me. “In repentance and rest you will be saved. In quietness and trust is your strength.” These words remind me that in my time of calamity, I am the most strong and secure when I am before God, quiet and still enough to hear Him speak to my heart.
But I’ve had many times when I’ve been just as impatient as those Israelites! Troubles would arise, and instead of going to God, I would mount up on the horse of my own understanding, and pursue my own ideas of how to tackle my problems. Just like the Israelites, I was pursued swiftly by more difficulties.
We do not know what life will throw our way. But whatever we encounter upon our journey, whether it’s good or bad, big or small, we need to take these things to God. When it comes time for us to make decisions, we need to do more than just think about what to do next. We need to ask God what we should do. We need to ask Him what He thinks. After all, the Lord Himself said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)”
More and more I see how I need to include God in every moment of every day. Whatever hand I’m dealt in life, I need to go put it in His hands, and let His will be done. Doing this takes faith and complete trust in Him. It also takes obedience driven by love for Him. To know what God wants for my life, I must make time for Him each day of my life and do as Psalm 4:4 says...“Stand in awe, commune with my own heart, and be still.” I think that’s what it means to “wait for the Lord.” When I do wait on Him, then I become strong, and my heart takes courage (see Psalm 27:14). He proves true to His Word!
May we all “cease our striving and know that He is God! (Psalm 46:10)” Jesus made it possible for us to “go boldly before God’s throne, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us.” (See Hebrews 4:14-16.) Our righteousness is nothing but filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6), but Christ, our Savior, has clothed us in His righteousness, and that gives us right standing with God. That’s what it means to be righteous. “And the work of righteousness will be peace; and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.” (Isaiah 32:17) When we make time for God, take everything to Him in prayer, and get before Him so that we’ll hear Him when He speaks to our hearts; we will find that He fills us with peace and confidence. “Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)”