How Often Do We Flee Rest

So much of learning to rest is responding to God’s invitation. There are so, so many other things that put a demand on us. To slow down, to calm down, to power down - these are required to get to that point when we can move into trust, and from there we can move into renewal.

Listen in to the Spirit’s invitation in this passage. And see if you can connect with what might even be loneliness on the part of God when we respond, “No.”

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.
You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ - Isaiah 30:15-16

Take a deep breath or two and then go back to that passage. Do just a bit of thinking: what stands out about the invitation? What might quietness mean to you right now? What are your horses?

Then do a bit of feeling: what’s going on in your heart as you read over this passage yet again. Is there some comfort or some challenge or some lament or some hope? Stay with that for a few moments with the Spirit now.