Gaining Strength in God

God has made His ways very clear to us in His Word. In chapter after chapter, book after book we read of the blessings that come to His people as we choose to walk in the ways of our God. When we come back to Him in repentance, we know salvation and healing. When we rest in Him, and cease to strive to do things our way instead of God’s way, we know His presence and the healing restoration that resting in Him brings. When we stop depending on our own abilities and start trusting in Him and His ways in all circumstances, then we discover the reality of how much God loves and cares for us.

Sadly, the people of Isaiah’s day reflected the universal condition of a rebellious heart in all generations when they said, “we will have none of it!” Some of the saddest days of my ministry life have been when people have poured out their life story and had to relate circumstances in which they had known what was right, but chose to do wrong. Sometimes the price they had paid for their pride was huge as they discovered what massive consequences had flowed out of ungodly choices.

Because the nature of God is love, however, He still acts towards us in a loving way and that means warning us when we are in danger and correcting us when we make mistakes. It would be a cruel human father who never helped his children grow up through loving correction and encouragement to do what is right. And that is what God is doing in this passage of Scripture. He is reminding us of the dangers that lie ahead on life’s journey if we ignore God’s loving direction.

Road signs warning us of road conditions ahead are there for our benefit. The road signs we discover in God’s Word are also for our benefit, but even more important! If we choose to ignore the signs, we shouldn’t be surprised if there are consequences.

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to have my spiritual eyes open at all times to see the possible dangers there are on the road of life. Forgive me, Lord, for the times when, in pride, I have not wanted anything to do with what your Word says. Today I choose repent and rest and discover your strength through quietly trusting in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.