I have always found it curious, and maybe a bit amusing, to watch people purchase things that require complicated assembly become frustrated as the instructions are left untouched within reach and waiting for them.
One of the first books that was given to our kids when they were young was a Sesame Street book called “I Can Do it Myself”. It was a cute book. I remember it well. The message of the entire book is you that do not need help from anyone; you can do it yourself. There is truth to this, but not in all of life.
I remember sitting on an airplane once years ago with a professor who had life well in hand. He was in his 40’s and a father of two children. I was in my early 20’s. He told me that he thought my faith in God was cute but would never workout in the real world. I told him that I felt sorry for his kids because they have no one bigger to go to when life falls apart except him. I prefer to have a God Almighty to go to and look to for wisdom, comfort and so much more. This opened the door for me to share Jesus with this fellow. He had never thought of faith in this way. I have no idea what God did in this man’s life after this conversation.
In Isaiah 30:15 we read: “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:“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.”
At this point in history, the Israelites were promised that God would help them in the coming attack of the Assyrians. They took a hard pass and turned to Egypt for help. It was what all the other nations were doing, and it seemed like the most sensible response. The result of this choice is seen in the verses that follow verse 15. Things do not go well for the Israelites.
I think about seasons in my own life when help was needed, I chose to go it alone and that decision was clearly not a good one. The fruit of following our own way is confusion, exhaustion, fear, anger and a poor perspective. All of this adds up to wandering around in a very thick forest with no clear way out. Rather than asking the One who sees what we don’t, we wander tree to tree, not getting anywhere fast.
When we trust God and believe what He says, though we may find ourselves in the midst of a deep forest (and not for just a few minutes), with the Good Shepherd leading us, we can have peace. His presence in the confusing frustrating times, the times when despair is so easy to fall into, God can make all the difference. Trusting His promises and waiting on Him to lead us through the forest, or the desert, wherever we find ourselves, there is peace and rest for our souls.
Dear Father,
Thank You for Your constant presence with us. Thank You for the peace You give to us as we walk along the way. You are faithful to us and we thank You.
In Jesus Name,
Amen