In Rest and Quietness....

(Katie) James and I are spending the morning at the Morton Arboretum's library. Its a beautiful and peaceful place to start the day. Living in the burbs, the Arboretum has become a refuge for us as we both love wide open spaces and nature. Spring semester has started and so I am grateful for some solitude to reflect since it always seems that the day flys by quickly.

One of the highlights of this past weekend was spending Saturday night with Andrea and Aron Mason and Lauren Caudell and Randall Rosen (recently engaged)! We enjoyed a Mexican themed dinner and spent 4 hours sharing stories about engagement/married life (lots of good laughs), recapping 2010, and sharing our dreams for 2011. Its a gift to spend time with couples who are full of JOY..who are willing to get real and be vulnerable about life... and who are passionate about desiring to look more like Christ in every aspect of their life. The night ended with us taking time to pray specifically for each couple. It was a powerful time of  speaking words of life over each other. I am grateful to spend Wednesday nights this upcoming year with friends who challenge James and I to be radical receivers and invite us to fully embrace this season of rest without the pressure of leading or pouring out. One of the life giving words that I received that night was Isaiah 30: 15:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

When Andrea spoke these powerful words over me, they resonated deep in my Spirit. So, I decided to study this passage to better understand the context into which God was speaking. Isaiah 30 begins with God rebuking those in Judah who are putting their trust in Egypt instead of God. When Assyria attacked Judah, the people were fearful and did not trust that the God would protect them and so they formed an alliance with Egypt to get help. Listen to how Isaiah describes the situation: 

"Ah, rebellious children,” declares the Lord,

“who carry out a plan, but not mine,

and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,that they may add sin to sin; 2 who set out to go down to Egypt,

without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh

and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt. 

Rebellious children, carrying out their own plan, making their own alliance, taking their own direction. Isaiah just held up a brutal mirror. I see myself all over these verses. I am more at risk of being guilty of these types of rebellion because I am well educated and financially secure. My knowledge and resources can enable me to believe that I don't actually need God's help. However, God is gracious and even in the midst of my prideful, hardened heart and disobedience, God's heart towards me is always one of "Return to Me." My strength is not found in our culture's obsession with independence, but in recognizing my need for God and returning to my dependence on Him. 

Isaiah also says that quietness shall be your strength. I am not naturally a very quiet person. I know that in quietness, I can hear the still small voice of the Lord. He encourages me in my weakness, quiets my fears, and gives me hope. However, most of the time I resist quietness to distract myself having to focus on my weaknesses or fears. This verse challenges me to consider the ratio of how much I am speaking compared to listening to God. 

Here are some wonderful words from Henri Nouwen (thanks Brooke!):

“When we enter into solitude to be with God alone, we quickly discover how dependent we are. Without the many distractions of our daily lives, we feel anxious and tense. When nobody speak to us, calls on us, or needs our help, we start feeling like nobodies. Then we begin wondering whether we are useful, valuable, and significant. Our tendency is to leave this fearful solitude quickly and get busy again to reassure ourselves that we are ‘somebodies.’ But that is a temptation, because what makes us somebodies is not other people’s responses to us but God’s eternal love for us."

Finally, there is a strong correlation between trust andrest for me. When I trust God, I can fully rest. The peace of God guards my heart and mind when I am rest. Therefore, I am finding its important to start paying attention to when I am fearful and anxious and to consider what I need from God that I am not trusting Him to provide. Hopefully this question will deter me from seeking refuge and protection from anyone or thing other than God!