9 December 2015 - he gives you wings (not red bull)

Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?

One of the reasons we have a hard time putting everything in God's hands is because it sometimes seems like he doesn't really understand what is going on in our lives. It seems like our ways and circumstances are disregarded by him or hidden from him. We think this way because our circumstances aren't what we want them to be. We don't live in the perfect worlds we envision. And because we think this way we have a hard time believing that God is for us and not against us, even though he tells us so.

We come to believe that God is preoccupied doing his God thing and doesn't have the time or the interest to care about our circumstances.

Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.

Isaiah tells us that the LORD is absolutely big enough to care. We can't impugn his motives or attribute to him indifference. OK, great, but if that is true, why are our circumstances still so flawed and imperfect. How can we live in this imperfect world and not blame God?

He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.

Though he does not yet set the circumstances right he does do something which is even more important. He changes us so that we can rest in him even amidst these circumstances. He does not make the stones we have the lift lighter. He makes us stronger to lift them. He does not remove the craters from our paths. Instead he gives us wings to soar above them.

If he just fixed circumstances our own hearts would be left flawed and imperfect. But because he wants our hearts we must choose to embrace the rest he offers. He will not force it upon us.

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest. 

We find rest by choosing the yoke of Jesus rather than our own yoke. We cast all of our cares on him because he cares for us. We seek first his kingdom knowing that the rest (and the rest) will be taken care of. So let us come to Jesus and choose the rest he wants to give us.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.