R&R and Q&T
I was recently watching a movie with my son and suddenly he began to scream at one of the characters, “She’s in the other room! Don’t go into that room!” This was during a climactic moment in the movie in which the viewer had more information than the character. This got me thinking, “If your life was a movie and people were watching the story of your life up to this point played out in movie form, what would they be screaming? What would they be telling you to do with your life?”
With their hands on their head, they would be screaming, “It’s so obvious! Leave the job. Leave the relationship. The killer’s in the bathroom.” What would the audience watching the movie of your life be screaming at the screen?
There is a story in the Bible in which the Assyrians are threatening the Israelites. Understandably frightened, Israel’s leaders set up an alliance with the Egyptians, despite God promising to protect them if they would rely on God. It’s at this point in their movie, we would all be screaming, “Don’t do it. This is contrary to God’s will. Trust in God.” Yet God’s people couldn’t wait on or trust the Lord to protect them.
Listen to what God says through the prophet Isaiah, “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling, and you said, ‘No!’” (Isaiah 30:15-16a)
In essence God is saying, the people needed R&R and Q&T. Returning and resting. Quietness and trust. Do you ever feel like financial, relational or physical problems wage war against you? Ever feel like you can’t get ahead or catch up? And it seems like everybody is screaming advice and answers to you? What do you do when the pressure is building, the Assyrians are coming, and the problems seem to be worsening? You return. You rest. You quiet your spirit and trust. This not only drowns out the screaming of others but postures your heart to hear from God.
That last line of verse 15 unsettles me. I wonder how many times God has offered me divine help, but I was unwilling and said, “No!” I wonder how often God has offered me the gifts of rest and quietness, but I have been unwilling to trust God enough to receive those gifts. In my restlessness, I wanted to charge ahead of God and make things happen based on the screaming around me and not based on His “still small voice.” This is the beauty of God’s voice. It often does not scream, and it is the opposite of restlessness. It produces stillness.
Maybe today you are not making allies with Egypt but are turning away from God’s invitation to R&R and Q&T. Today, I want to remind you that what was once true for Israel is still true for me and you. The direction and guidance we need comes only when we turn to God and rest in His faithfulness.
In the same chapter, God continues through Isaiah and reminds the people what happens when they do it. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)
Today if you need direction, if you need advice, if Assyria is attacking and others are screaming, and you can’t hear the voice of God—return and rest. In quietness and trust will you find the answers you need. This is why great theologian Augustine wrote in his Confessions, “Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”
“God today we stop and return to you. Today we cease from our striving and our desires, and we seek rest and refuge in you. Today God, we quiet our hearts before you and trust you alone, for only YOU are all that we need. Let us hear your voice clearly and humbly walk in your provision. Amen.”
With their hands on their head, they would be screaming, “It’s so obvious! Leave the job. Leave the relationship. The killer’s in the bathroom.” What would the audience watching the movie of your life be screaming at the screen?
There is a story in the Bible in which the Assyrians are threatening the Israelites. Understandably frightened, Israel’s leaders set up an alliance with the Egyptians, despite God promising to protect them if they would rely on God. It’s at this point in their movie, we would all be screaming, “Don’t do it. This is contrary to God’s will. Trust in God.” Yet God’s people couldn’t wait on or trust the Lord to protect them.
Listen to what God says through the prophet Isaiah, “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling, and you said, ‘No!’” (Isaiah 30:15-16a)
In essence God is saying, the people needed R&R and Q&T. Returning and resting. Quietness and trust. Do you ever feel like financial, relational or physical problems wage war against you? Ever feel like you can’t get ahead or catch up? And it seems like everybody is screaming advice and answers to you? What do you do when the pressure is building, the Assyrians are coming, and the problems seem to be worsening? You return. You rest. You quiet your spirit and trust. This not only drowns out the screaming of others but postures your heart to hear from God.
That last line of verse 15 unsettles me. I wonder how many times God has offered me divine help, but I was unwilling and said, “No!” I wonder how often God has offered me the gifts of rest and quietness, but I have been unwilling to trust God enough to receive those gifts. In my restlessness, I wanted to charge ahead of God and make things happen based on the screaming around me and not based on His “still small voice.” This is the beauty of God’s voice. It often does not scream, and it is the opposite of restlessness. It produces stillness.
Maybe today you are not making allies with Egypt but are turning away from God’s invitation to R&R and Q&T. Today, I want to remind you that what was once true for Israel is still true for me and you. The direction and guidance we need comes only when we turn to God and rest in His faithfulness.
In the same chapter, God continues through Isaiah and reminds the people what happens when they do it. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)
Today if you need direction, if you need advice, if Assyria is attacking and others are screaming, and you can’t hear the voice of God—return and rest. In quietness and trust will you find the answers you need. This is why great theologian Augustine wrote in his Confessions, “Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”
“God today we stop and return to you. Today we cease from our striving and our desires, and we seek rest and refuge in you. Today God, we quiet our hearts before you and trust you alone, for only YOU are all that we need. Let us hear your voice clearly and humbly walk in your provision. Amen.”
Posted in Notes from Pastor Adrian
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