Leslie Wittenmyer
March 2, 2024
Isaiah 30:15, New Living Translation
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me, and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.”
Sometimes our journey with the Lord can be challenging. We face moments of difficulty with our enemy, and we are sometimes faced with challenges of our own desires. I think about Moses and the Israelites that he was leading out of Egypt. Though they witnessed a miracle of the Lord parting the Red Sea, how quickly they forgot, and began to complain against the Lord. There are times, when, like the Israelites, we forget how God has shown up in our lives, and we begin to complain. We want to go back to what is comfortable.
I was inspired by this scripture I came across in Isaiah 30:15-18 (NLT), “This is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: ‘Only in returning to me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies, chasing you! One of them will choose 1000 of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountain top.” So, the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
Our Father is waiting for us to come to Him to show us love and compassion! He is faithful. When we come to Him, we gain quietness, confidence, and strength. This comes from our Father (v 15). Quietness, and this verse, can also translate into peace. When I read this, this scripture came to my mind: “I am leaving you with a gift— peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)
With peace, Christ gives us strength. With confidence and strength. We are looking up the Hebrew meaning for confidence. I found that it also describes what is solid or firm. In other words, it’s completely trusting in the stability of God.
What do I think of when I hear the phrase, “stability of God?” He’s the only God who can deliver. He’s the only God who can save. He’s the only God who can be redeemed. He’s the only God who can restore and make beauty from ashes. He’s the only one they can do all of these things and more in our lives.
When the enemy comes at you trying to discourage you, don’t fall into the temptation of going back to Egypt! Don’t let Him make you afraid! Remember where your strength comes from! When you return to Him and rest in Him, and trust in His stability, you gain His strength. Remember that “the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait on his help.” (Isaiah 30:18, NLT) He is waiting for you with open arms! Accept His love and compassion in your life! Accept Jesus as your Savior so you can experience what it truly means to live and not just be alive!