It seems as though restless is becoming an apt word to describe people in our country (and perhaps throughout the world). We are seeing stories of protests all over the country clamoring for the ‘shelter in place’ orders to be lifted. And though it’s becoming more and more apt, I think it is simply becoming more and more visible. Naturally we are restless people. It was the great theologian Augustine who wrote in his Confessions: “Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”

This is a truth that has been set forth throughout Scripture. Our hearts wander and pursue other places of refuge. In Isaiah 30 we see the prophet call out Israel for its stubbornness in continuing to look to Egypt for its salvation. They sought refuge in Pharaoh rather than in the Lord. This was the sign of a rebellious people. They even called out for the prophets to speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions (Isaiah 30:10).

And yet in all of this we see in verse 15 a spotlight shining brightly on the heart of God.

15 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.” 

The call is to return; to repent. The people of Israel were called to repent of their trust in what cannot save. They were called to return and rest in the Lord alone. It is a call to faith in the Lord, and in the Lord alone. There is no one who can deliver the salvation that God’s people long for but God himself. And it is in God alone - in our quietness and trust in him that we shall find strength.

When we turn and rest, and trust in our Lord we will sing with the words of Exodus 15:1-18 and Isaiah 12 (see verse 2 below).

2 “Behold, God is my salvation; 

I will trust, and will not be afraid; 

for the Lord GOD is my strength and my song, 

and he has become my salvation.” 

But you were unwilling…These are the sad words that complete Isaiah 30:15. The people instead ran to other places of refuge (all that would fail). Let us learn from history and not be people unwilling. Let us be people who trust…who have faith…who repent of our false gods (idols, other sources of trust and refuge). Let us learn to rest. It is hard for us to be still and to trust, especially in the midst of some massive unknowns (but isn’t the unknown the place where our resting in God is actually tested?). This is a time where we feel the heaviness of the unfamiliar and the somewhat scary. But the call remains the same, and so does the heart of our God.

In Isaiah 30:18 we read: Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. Hear the heart of God in that for his children. And hear that same heart in the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28,29.

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Lord, calm our anxious hearts. May we find our rest in You and in You alone.

A song written by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend and featured in the Getty's album "Awaken The Dawn". The song is about being still and trusting in...

This morning I read these words from 1 Thessalonians 1:

 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Of course what caught my attention first was receiving the word in much affliction. The world is certainly under a good bit of affliction right now - and the question is: are we receiving the word during this time? I realize the context is a bit different, but I believe the principle stands. When the Thessalonians heard the word, they believed and they sounded it forth - they spoke the word of God. They may have been young in their faith, but they were examples in faith, love, and hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3). What are we filling our hearts and minds with during this time? Are we seeking after what is absolutely true and good and beautiful?

But there is more, at the end of that passage Paul mentions that the Thessalonians turned to God from idols. This is a time where idols are being stripped away, but we have to be careful, because other idols are vying for their position in our lives. I saw this tweet from Bob Thune yesterday.

I think what he wrote is quite true. We have had safety and security and the like stripped away from us. Most of us have had our worlds turned a bit upside down. It is all so different right now. We’ve never been through a pandemic before (unless you are the 100 plus year old guy in Italy). Things we have relied on and trusted in have been removed (and that’s good), but if we are not careful, we will merely substitute them with something else that isn’t God.

The only unchanged and unchanging is God. Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. And, remember how God identified himself to Moses - I Am. He is and he is the God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6).

Oh - and one more thing. Verse 10 of 1 Thessalonians is about longing for the return of Christ. The Christian not only turns to God and away from idols, but waits (with anticipation) for the Christ to return and set everything right.

I don’t have any song that goes with what I wrote - but this song by Wes King is appropriate at any time. Enjoy.