This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. ISAIAH 30:15 (NLT)

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GOD, the Master, the Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me—The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do.”
The Message

How can you save yourself? You can’t.

How can you be saved? Be still. Trust God. 

This seems so counterintuitive, so un-American. 

To live in wisdom and power requires an increasing trust in God. 

Think of it this way: 

• The more we trust God, the less we feel like we have to accomplish on our own. 
• The more we trust God, the less we have to come up with new ideas to set the world straight. 
• The more we trust God, the more we begin to believe that he is at work all around us and we need to join him in what he is already doing.

In this season of pandemic, protest, and politics, there is a sense of paralysis. The more things change, the more they stay the same. True progress is incremental at best. We experience more airing of grievances and less helpful change. Shouting and violence tend to entrench those on opposite sides rather than facilitate cooperation. 

A group of eight people met yesterday in a quiet setting without fanfare. Two women and six men were there. Two pastors and two other ministry leaders were in the room. Two high-ranking police officers attended. Three were African Americans, four were Anglos, and one was Hispanic. 

Not knowing the faith background of everyone in the room, the convener of the meeting asked each person to introduce himself or herself with several questions. The last question was, “What is God saying to you right now?” Every person in the room had a specific and related expression of what God was impressing on their hearts. 

In two hours, this group accomplished more for race relations and future collaboration between police and different communities within our larger community than anything else I know of. A pilot project was created. Once implemented, it will be evaluated and improved and taken to different parts of the city. Real and positive change is happening. 

No one shouted. No one lost their cool. No one left with lingering animosity or a grudge. Everyone experienced hope. 

It all began with a question. What is God saying to you? Many are hearing from God what God said so long ago: Return to me. Rest in me. Be still. Trust me. This is where your strength and salvation come from. 

This is a good season to rest and to be still. This is a good season to trust God. This is a good season to find our strength and salvation in God alone. 

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I will settle down in complete dependence upon God.

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Our Father, so many times you gave instructions to people in the Bible to be still and to trust you. May we learn this lesson again. May we trust and obey. You can do more through our silence and stillness than we can in energetic activity. Teach us the grace of waiting on you. Give us ears to hear what you are saying while we wait. Give us willing and obedient hearts to follow where you lead. Amen.