It had been a hard week as some shared of painful or difficult circumstances, asking for prayer that God would move. I found myself wishing I could buy two cups of coffee – one for me, one for them – and somehow show up on each doorstep to visit for a few minutes. But these were online friends and miles separated us.
But His Word spanned the distance as I read the words in front of me,
“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God.“
(Isaiah 50:10, NLT)
When we are walking through dark times, we need to do take two postures:
- Trust in the Lord.
- Rely on your God.
Trust. Personally, I think we throw the word around casually. God is calling us “to attach ourselves” to Him with a firmness that is unshakable (from the Old Testament Lexical Aids, The Key Word Bible).
Need help with this? Picture your toddler, hanging onto your leg while you try to wash dishes.
Remember the fierce grip? Hold onto, and attach yourself to God in just that way.
Rely. “It denotes an attitude of supporting oneself upon something” (Old Testament Lexical Aids, The Key Word Bible).
Again, may I offer an image? It is similar to an older person needing the assistance of a cane or walker. All of their weight is on the apparatus with the complete confidence it will support and hold them up.
So now we have these images of trusting and relying before us, but what are we not to do in those hard times of darkness?
“But watch out, you who live in your own lightand warm yourselves by your own fires.”
(Isaiah 50:11, NLT)
We are not to make our own solutions. Don’t, in a sense, strike your own fire. Don’t remedy the situation as you think best.
Wait on God. Hang onto Him, letting Him lead and direct your paths. Ask Him for wisdom and understanding. Lean on Him with all your might, for waiting takes strength and courage.
Trust and rely on Him, remembering –
We never walk alone.
Thank you for this today, Joanne! Holding on to Him with an unshakable firmness - and, so trying very hard not to make my own solutions. Learning the deep beauty of letting Him - I just need someone to slap my hands every so often when they reach to strike that match! Shalom, friend - and thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteMaryleigh, I think we all need some hand slapping every now and then :) I know I do! May we remain steady, assured He is every with us.
DeleteThank you, this is so great to read today.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of my favorite verses. What a blessing that God can more than handle the full weight of our reliance on Him.
ReplyDeleteI so need to hold onto the Only One Who can bring the hope and the joy I so need right now. Thank you, thank you. Seems like each place I go this evening has just the message for me. God knows!!!
ReplyDelete