How long will you choose to struggle by relying on your own understanding?
Oof. Sometimes it takes pausing in the middle of our reality and the demands of our days for a moment to open scripture and immerse ourselves in truth.
We have a choice to trust God, relying on His truth, or lean on our own understanding. Both are guaranteed to lead to different outcomes.
Some might argue that we have a part to play that requires leaning on ourselves and we do, but what lasting good comes from the work of our hands apart from God? On our own, we may strive and achieve, but true and eternal fruit comes only from co-laboring with Him. Some outcomes we get to witness, and others God performs without our awareness, blessing others through our obedience.
Both of my boys just miraculously went down for a nap at the same time. I grabbed a snack and sat down to begin writing. As I always do, I prayed for God to guide our topic and to lead me in His word to the passage He needs me to sit in with Him today so that He can share here. I opened my Bible to Isaiah 50.
Isaiah 50 is part of what is often called the Servant Songs, where God talks about His faithful servant and His relationship with Israel. You can read the full section for yourself, but here are a few thoughtful highlights I wanted to point out today.
Verses 1 through 3 show us that Israel’s separation from God is due to their disobedience, not because of God’s inability or lack of love for them. God reminds us of His power through illustrations of drying up the sea and darkening the sky. He is able and He loves us unconditionally. He loves us enough to invite a response from us to live fully in His good gifts through obedience to His call.
Obedience to open His word.
Obedience to listen to His guidance.
Obedience to pursue a relationship with Him in expectancy that you will know Him more with each moment you spend with Him.
This leads us to verses 4 through 9 where an obedient servant is described. First, speaking to encourage the weary, using your voice and your experience of who God is to you to encourage others, believing He can use us for the good of others because Christ lives in us. Second, we are called to listen to God. Third, we are called to obey without rebellion. These verses also remind us that faithfully serving the Lord may lead us through suffering, but God defends and justifies the faithful.
“Behold, the Lord God helps me…” Isaiah 50:9
The final section presents our choice, the same choice we started with today. Do we trust God? Even in darkness, do we rely on Him and walk by faith, not by what we can understand apart from Him? Or do we rely on ourselves, fighting our way through circumstances and forgetting our ever present helper, the Holy Spirit, who guides us and lights the path ahead?
Lately, I have been touched by how God shows me He hears and cares about my specific prayers. The prayers that my mind and even my heart feel too busy to pause and consider or hope for. I have started taking a moment each day to think about a specific prayer I can share with the Lord. Something measurable. Something I can clearly give God the glory for when I see a response I did not expect.
I encourage you to try this if it is not a common practice for you. Think of something specific that matters to you. Do not just state the circumstance, but ask God to move in detail. Ask Him to give you undeniable peace in a conversation as you walk into the room. Ask God to show you someone you can bless as you walk into the store. Ask God to make a way for you to pay a bill, down to the dollar.
I believe He will begin to show you just how deeply He cares for you and those around you, often in ways you might not expect.
So today, in the middle of whatever you are facing, will you keep striving in your own strength, or will you trust the One who is already holding it all together?
Britt Goff
Wheatful Wednesday
If you're not on our email list and would like to be CLICK HERE