In the teaching world, there is a popular phrase we tell our students when they can't seem to sit still and behave themselves. We tell them manage your impulsivity. This means they need to control their natural tendency to be distracted, to want to squirm their way out of their seats, and their natural desire to act out of impatience. This is extremely hard for middle school students, but we still expect them to learn this concept. As Christians, we too must manage our impulsivity, or our natural tendency to act out of impatience.
In Isaiah 30:21, we read that the Israelite people fell into a sinful state by building alliances with the Egyptians, who were a type and figure of sin and the world. The Israelites were weary in heart and had little strength left in them. As a result, they became desperate to make something happen in their lives. Yet, instead of turning to God, they found comfort in Egypt and in all the provisions it seemed to offer them. They refused God's counsel (v. 1) and in the end, were left confused (v. 3). Yet, after God's rebuke, He invited them back into the stillness of His presence, a place of rest, and a place where He could guide them once again and prepare their way.
There are moments in life where you experience weariness, lack of strength, and desperation for God to answer you. It is in those very moments that your true character is revealed. You can either choose to trust in God to meet your needs or you look to other things and people for the answers you so desperately need. Sometimes we think that if God is not "showing up" it is our job to help Him out. Often, we feel that we need to intervene on our own behalf. Don't get me wrong, there are many times when God requires that we act in faith, but there are also times when God tells us to be still and know that He is God. In verse 7, the Lord speaks to the people through Isaiah saying, "For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose...Their [Israelites] strength is to sit still." Verse 5 goes on to say, "For thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength..." How hard is it for us to be still and to rest in the Lord? It can be very hard at times. Despite what we tell ourselves, a season of rest and stillness is of God. In these seasons, we often think because we are not doing anything extraordinary at every moment of every day or because no great event is occurring in our lives, that our life serves no purpose. Lack of excitement, unanswered prayers, and moments of waiting can cause us to be anxious to the point where we can act too hastily. I can see this happening in a variety of situations. A young woman is tired of waiting on God to bring her that special someone so she runs out and dates an unbeliever who has different values than her and could care less about God's calling upon her life. Or sometimes, a guy will settle for a nice Christian girl that doesn't have the same calling up her life that he has. Sometimes a person will take a job that interferes with Church and ministry or a job that promotes values opposite of their own because they become desperate. Sometimes, a couple will get tired of living in that one-bedroom apartment and purchase that large house even when they know they are not ready for such a large mortgage. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. It is in those resting and quiet seasons of our lives where God's power truly works through us. In the same chapter above, we see a couple of verses later that God beckons the children of Israel to return to him so he could direct them once again, "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious to you...blessed are all they that wait for him...And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, This is the way, walk ye in it..." (Isaiah 30: 18, 21). Know that when you choose to be still and to stand in the quietness of God, you are positioning yourself to hear from God regarding the direction you should go. He will show His way for you and tell you to walk in it. To me, that's powerful. Know that quiet times in God are just as powerful as moments where God is doing a quick and powerful work. Author Elizabeth George tells about a time in her life where God forced her to rest physically and spiritually. For many months after she and her husband, as well as their children moved to Singapore, she stayed in their apartment with her kids. She longed to be out there with her husband in the city ministering to the people, giving conferences, and training other women in the Kingdom of God, but God did not open those doors quite yet. She finally accepted this circumstance and began to spend more time in prayer, with her children, adjusting to the new culture, and in general, just resting in God's presence. Later, her life got busy once again, but the time of rest that she experienced those first few months gave her the strength she needed later to serve more fervently in God's kingdom. God ordained that time her life and God is ordaining this quiet and restful time in your life as well. Don't fight it. You don't know what lies ahead, but God does. You may need to store up strength for a later season. Don't lose heart, God is still directing you and guiding you. Just continue to be Still and know that He is God. No matter what is happening around you or what is NOT happening around you, be still. God has everything under control.
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