I Refuse To Rest

Therefore, the Lord God,
    the holy one of Israel, says:
In return and rest you will be saved;
    quietness and trust will be your strength—
    but you refused.

Rest. Quietness. Trust.

God promises me strength if I rest and trust in him, quietly.

I guess that’s where I fall incredibly short. I say I trust, but in the waiting stages of a decision, life changes or the unknown I tend to… not rest. Well actually I tend to have sleepless nights, endless chatter in my mind and mouth and general feelings of anxiousness and fear.

Today my “to do” list has rest at number one on the list. Followed by quietness and trust. I am going to work at resting in my Lord. I am focusing my energy, not on fear, doubt or worry, but on standing behind the protective hand and watching him redeem my messes, guide my steps and unfold his glory in my troubled world.

Lord, hear my prayer.
    Listen to my call for help and answer my prayer.
    Show me how good and loyal you are.
Don’t judge me, your servant.
    No one alive could be judged innocent by your standards.
My enemies are chasing me.
    They have crushed me into the dirt.
They are pushing me into the dark grave,
    like people who died long ago.
I am ready to give up.
    I am losing my courage.
But I remember what happened long ago.
    I am thinking about all you have done.
    I am talking about what you made with your hands!
I lift my hands in prayer to you.
    I am waiting for your help, like a dry land waiting for rain. Selah