Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.”

This story has been repeated countless times throughout history, both on the national level and on the personal level. Taking our eyes off of God, we feel compelled to DO something, when God is telling us to be quiet and trust Him. It’s not at all that we are to be passive, but rather that we are to be active in our obedience. If God says act, then act. If God says wait, then wait. I think it comes down to our desire to be in control. In extreme forms that’s called megalomania, and produces despots of all sorts, but we are all tempted in that direction at times. The thing is, that is relying on human strength, when compared to the Creator of the universe, that is by definition insignificant. Many believers down through the ages have realized this, and that’s where the expression, “Let go and let God,” comes from. Again, this is not saying that we are to be passive. God in His grace and wisdom has included us in His plans, (Ephesians 2:10) but our job is to seek Him and recognize His plans and actively participate, not to cook up our own plans and ignore Him.

I remember once delivering exactly this verse to a missionary prophetically. I was hesitant to do so, because I didn’t feel the last line applied to him, but I did feel strongly the Lord was saying the part in quotes directly to him. I had no idea of the issue he was facing, but I knew that God wanted him to know that He had it under control, and all the missionary needed to do was trust God. I have experienced the same sort of thing many times myself. I too tend to look at situations and think I personally have to come up with the solution to them. Often the Lord has already provided the solution, and I just have to recognize it, but sometimes the solution hasn’t yet appeared, and I have to wait for it. That can get hard! I speak frequently of how God is outside of time, so everything is now to Him, but not being that way myself, my emotions often don’t line up. It has been commented by some that I have a gift of faith, for which I’m grateful, but I’ve still got plenty of room to grow! My focus has got to be on listening obediently to my Lord, doing what He says and only what He says, so that His plans may be realized on His schedule for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the gift of the tiller that I received yesterday. I’ve borrowed it several times and have offered to buy it, but it was an outright gift, and I’m grateful. The timing was perfect! Help me use it when and as You intend, to bring the harvest that You desire. That garden tiller is certainly an analogy for all that You provide! Help me use it all in full obedience to You, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!