Isaiah 30:15 (KJV)
The other morning I was watching part of the women's skeleton competition from the Sochi Olympics. I had just finished one of those times with the Lord where nothing quite goes in sync. This tends to make me restless and edgy -- no doubt a sign of my spiritual immaturity, because the Lord isn't concerned about such things. He knows some days we just don't quite make the leap from where we are to where He is. Time spent with Him isn't about coming away with a certain experience or insight, it's about time spent with Him.
Anyway, as I was sitting there feeling restless and edgy, the sports commentators began talking about the intensity of the sounds that can be heard as competitors rocket down the icy track. Sounds are made as the sleds drift into contact with the vertical curves of the track. One of the commentators observed something very interesting. I've forgotten her exact words, but the idea was this: the quieter a competitor's run is down the track, the more it indicates that the competitor is not having to strive.
Immediately I realized this was the Lord's message for me. A picture, a bit like "stop kicking against the goads," but in modern-day imagery. When we are quietly resting in His strength, we are no longer struggling with Him. We live in His joy and all-sufficiency. We let Him decide how things come out.
In other words, we cease striving and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10a).
The lesson: Stop trying to figure it all out. Trust in Him like a little child; let Him be God. He has everything under control. How can we know this? Read the rest of Psalm 46:10:
"I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The command to cease striving is not so that we will have an easy time of things. It's about His glory. He will be exalted among the nations. He will be exalted in the earth. It's a done deal. We've just been invited along for the ride.
And what a ride.
Praise you, victorious King.