Return and Rest

Isaiah 30:15 "For this 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."

Anytime I have the opportunity to sign a book I've written, I catch myself jotting down the reference to one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Isaiah 30:15 has become the theme for my life. Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by all you must do in a day? Do you feel the pressure of distractions suffocating you? I can easily become overrun by all the noise in my life and overwhelmed by all I have to do. It’s easy for me to forget about God. But Isaiah’s words are a reminder to us that we can’t forget who God is. 

Rest and quietness are precious commodities in today’s world, but without them we cannot connect with the Lord. Elijah learned that lesson in a cave after watching an earthquake and a storm. He soon understood that God often shows up when it’s quiet enough for a whisper. 

How much time are you carving out in your day for rest? How still are you during the course of the day? Isaiah’s words remind us that not everyone was willing to take God up on His offer. Not everyone found strength for the road, but only those who heeded the words of the Lord.

Questions: 

What does it look like practically speaking to “return and rest” in today’s culture? How can you carve out more time with the Lord each day?