May 13th, 2021

I have finally found a moment this evening to hide myself away to write… And as I sit quietly, I reflect... Does anything stand out to me… anything noteworthy? Because it was kind of just a simple day. Laundry (lots of it!), doctor appointments, running kids to and from their job, dishes (lots of them), cooking, proofreading lab reports, etc, etc, etc -- a catch up type of day. 

And yet there is this verse that keeps circling around inside my head.  It feels like an airplane hovering over a landing strip - trying to land… I’ll just let God’s Word speak for itself, 

Isaiah 30:15a
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, 
in quietness and trust is your strength,”

Yet, when I flip open Scripture to cite chapter and verse - I discover these next words:

“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.’
Therefore, you will flee.
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore, your pursuers will be swift!

A thousand will flee
at the threat of One;
at the threat of five
you will all flee away,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.

Yet, the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
Therefore, He will rise up to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you.”

And so while my day holds nothing noteworthy, so to speak… Not that far away, in a land set apart for the people of God - all hell has broken loose. We pray for the peace of Israel. We cry out for Jehovah Shalom. “Hear our prayers! Give Wisdom.” 

I can neither add, nor delete anything from this passage. The words take shape in the deep places of my heart… the dark places underground where roots are being forged. 

I read, reflect, remember. 

I am humbled by my safety. 

I am reminded of the cost of freedom. 

The Cross. It’s always the Cross. The path to freedom always passes through the Cross. 

I kneel because I no longer remain unchanged. Sanctification sinks deep into the dark places where roots are being forged. 

I am alive… by grace.