Returning and Rest -- Quietness and Confidence

Returning and Rest

Quietness and Confidence

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV)

In the U.S.A., from before Thanksgiving until January 1st, (when many of us sink into exhaustion), traditional hyperactivity of the holiday season has become an addictive disease.

Think about it. Remember other years at this time, and how long it took you to feel normal again. "Perhaps" you whisper to yourself, "God willing, this year will be different."

Well, let's consider this:

God IS willing - the problem is in OUR mind, and in our materialistic culture. As with every other part of our lives, it is OUR choice.

It's that 'free will' part of our humanity where the wrong choices are made.

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

Years of personal experience show that it's the hectic activity born of 'wants' and self-imposed 'duties' that causes wrong decisions. Sometimes it is the zeal of another which we allow to drive us into mental and emotional turmoil.

Here's a song lyric that paints the picture:

"I'm frac-tion-a-ted, and I need help im-med-i-ate-ly.

I'm frac-tion-a-ted. There's just too many sides of me.

A little of this, a little of that. And I just don't know where I'm at!

I'm frac-tion-a-ted . . . and I just want to be free!

Oh Lord, I need Your help. I need Your help right now!

I know I need to trust You - but I just don't know how!

I'm frac-tion-a-ted, and I need help im-med-i-ate-ly.

I'm frac-tion-a-ted. There's just too many sides of me.

A little of this, a little of that. And I just don't know where I'm at!

I'm frac-tion-a-ted . . . And I just want to be free!"

Now comes His still, small voice bringing hope, and the promise of restoration to our soul.

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

Let's take a trip through Psalm 37 . . .

Security of Those Who Trust in the LORD, and Insecurity of the Wicked.

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 37

Do not fret because of evildoers,

Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

When our trust is

truly in God,

For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.

we have the peace

and grace to

forgive others.

Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

God Himself will

watch over

you and your

loved ones.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.

As you release

control of a situation,

angelic warriors

will battle for you.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Continue

trusting in God,

without doing

battle yourself.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

God is the

judge of all.

Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

He defends

and protects

those who truly

trust in Him.

But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

The wicked plots against the righteous
And gnashes at him with his teeth.

Although the wicked

threaten and strike

The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees his day is coming.

God shields

His children.

The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
To slay those who are upright in conduct.

Remember Daniel

in the lions' den.

Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their bows will be broken.

Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.

Be content with

God's provision

for you.

For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the Lord sustains the righteous.

The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
And their inheritance will be forever.

Trust and rest in

God's grace for you.

They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will have abundance.

But the wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures,
They vanish-like smoke they vanish away.

Keep financial

accounts honest and

give to the needy.

The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous is gracious and gives.

For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,
But those cursed by Him will be cut off.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.

God planned your

path and cares

for you as you walk.

When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.

Lifetime experience

proves God's

faithfulness.

All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his descendants are a blessing.

Your prosperity will

continue in your family

as you turn from evil

and do what is good.

Depart from evil and do good,
So you will abide forever.

For the Lord loves justice
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

The righteous will inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.

Speak the Truth

God puts in your heart

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.

The law of his God is in his heart;
His steps do not slip.

The wicked spies upon the righteous
And seeks to kill him.

You will be protected

and you will be

vindicated.

The Lord will not leave him in his hand
Or let him be condemned when he is judged.

Your patience will

be rewarded.

Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

I have seen a wicked, violent man
Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more;
I sought for him, but he could not be found.

Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright;
For the man of peace will have a posterity.

Watch the good man.

Behold the destruction

of the wicked.

But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;
The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in time of trouble.

REJOICE!

The Lord helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.

SO MAY WE DECLARE WITH THANKSGIVING,

YES, LORD . . . SO BE IT!