Has life ever made you feel like you were a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop? Situations feel overwhelming. You’re tired and weary, doing all you can to keep the ship upright, keep your marriage from falling apart, you business together, you kids on the right track, and your finances in order. You have jams to get out of, problems to solve, things to do and places where you need protection and guidance.
The faint whispers that call to your heart to return to God get swallowed up by everything else that competes for your attention. Resting in His presence seems like a luxury…and if we are completely honest…we think we need to do something more. It’s hard to align our actions with what we say we believe…that God is enough.
How easy it is for us to find ourselves in a place of isolation and weariness. We strive…we plan…we cling to all sorts of things in hopes that it will become easier, we will make progress and find peace.
A scripture that speaks deeply to my soul and is becoming foundational to my relationship with God is from Isaiah 30.
Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.
God doesn’t move. We do.
But that’s not all…Isaiah continues…
So the LORD must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the LORD is a faithful God.
Remember this promise today! If you have moved away from God, no matter the reason or the distance, He is waiting for you to return to Him so that He can show you His love and compassion! He wants you to understand and experience Him and know His will for your life, even more than you do! So let trusting confidence be your strength. As He calls out to you, it’s ok to set something aside…say no to the good, so that you can say yes to the One who is everlasting, who created the heavens and the earth, who never grows weary and who calls you precious, honored and dearly loved.
If your soul is dry today, the best thing you can do to nourish it is to return to Him. Rest in Him. Go outside or shut your door or find a chair tucked away in a corner somewhere. Set a timer if you have to so you can be fully present. You’d find a way to do this if you had an important phone call to make, a business matter to take care of or an errand to run…you can make the choice to do whatever it takes to get away with God for a little while. Talk to Him. Read a scripture, maybe reflect more on His words here in Isaiah…there is no right or wrong way to be with Him. All that matters is to know that He is the one person you can trust and cling to…and that He will never disappoint.
This is priceless! I found this happening to me and the less time I made for God the more time the ways of the world made time for me. I now have quit watching TV and spend this time with God. I also started a daily Christian journal in which I detail all the ways I am grateful. God was preparing me as I was contacted several weeks ago by an acquaintance who asked to have lunch with me. He admitted he had lost his faith and wanted me to mentor him and share how my faith had helped me overcome many challenges. We meet each Friday for lunch.
That’s so awesome, Pat! I love how God not only drew you closer but is using you to love someone else along their journey!