Rest, Not Resist

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-3128Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28‑31)
In pondering Isaiah 40:28-3128Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28‑31), I was struck with the thought that the times when I find myself faint, with no might, weary, and utterly falling are the times when I am resisting the fact that all He allows in my life is according to His perfect plan for me, and that He will provide, and He will see me through! Take out the S (sin) and the I (myself), and suddenly “resist” becomes “rest”! With that in mind I reread these verses in a whole new light. It is through the renewing of my mind (Rom. 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)) that I find “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” in my life. When I choose to refocus upon Him of whom there is no searching of His understanding, the Creator of the ends of the earth, instead of on my puny little troubles and trials, then I find the renewing of my strength! It is only as I wait on Him alone that my strength is renewed, that I can “mount up with wings as eagles;  ...  run, and not be weary;  ...  and walk, and not faint.” When I resist I cannot rest. He who said, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)) is the same One who has chosen every circumstance in my life! Am I weary? Where am I resisting? “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: Fret not thyself” (Psalm 37:77Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalm 37:7)).
I will not resist You, when You move Your hand to mold me.
I will not insist You show me all Your plans today.
I will not despise the tools You’re using now to shape me.
I will not require understanding to obey.
Todd Murray – Used with permission.