“A hurried life will catch up with you, resulting in relational neglect that requires professional help to repair.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 5, 2022
Those who wait on the Lord…shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Across the street from our house are 107 acres of forest, disturbed only by well-kept hiking trails. Regularly, I make my way into God’s natural wonderland, always in awe and wonder at His prolific creation. Entering the woods, I feel the cool presence of God’s love, as I begin to stroll on the paths with Him. I’m learning to balance my listening to podcasts to paying attention to whatever tensions I am experiencing and hand over my concerns to His sweet care. Along the trail I have identified eleven “trinity trees”, a name I made up because of the broad base of one tree that supports three unique trees growing out from the trunk, each with its own attractive beauty. The presence of the Father, Son and Spirit put a bounce in my step and cause my soul to sing!
The prophet Isaiah wisely states the necessity of waiting on the Lord, which leads to walking with the Lord. Rather than fainting from exhaustion, be energized by faithfulness. Yes, fly like an eagle! To fly like an eagle (or flourish) is always preceded by what might seem like an anticlimactic walk with the Lord. Oswald Chambers describes this necessary, though sometimes less thrilling discipline of walking with God: “There is no thrill for us in walking, yet it is the test for all of our steady and enduring qualities. To “walk and not faint” is the highest stretch possible as a measure of strength. The word walk is used in the Bible to express the character of a person— “…John…looking at Jesus as He walked…said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ ” (John 1:35-36). There is nothing abstract or obscure in the Bible; everything is vivid and real. God does not say, “Be spiritual,” but He says, “Walk before Me…” (Genesis 17:1).
“Walk in love, as Christ has loved us and given Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2).
Has your faith fatigued to the point of losing hope? If so, slow down for a season and consider if you might be running ahead of the Lord. A tired faith may be the result of prolonged unanswered prayers, fear of ongoing conflict or issues out of your control. Just going faster or working harder, may in fact work against your deep-down desire to reengage in restoring your soul. Don’t wait until circumstances or health issues stop you in your tracks. Better to experience a prayerful, planned out transition rather than feeling pushed out with regrets and resentment. A hurried life will catch up with you, resulting in relational neglect that requires professional help to repair.
Running through life runs the high risk of missing God’s very best for you and your family. Unhealthy desires concealed by hurry can distract you with good things as you miss the Lord’s love in relational and emotional care. It’s not enough to recognize the necessity for walking with Christ, but you must go a step further to understand and develop a lifestyle of being in step with your Savior Jesus. When life seems like a walk in the park, praise and thank Him. When the image of being a perfectionist has you trapped in fear and resentment, give your imperfect self permission to exit on the offramp of trust to abide in His perfect love. If exhausted, rest. If angry, forgive. Flourishing follows walking, listening to and talking with Jesus. So, walk on!
“For you have delivered my soul from death. Have you not kept my feet from failing, that I may walk before God in the light of the living” (Psalm 56:13).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, slow me down to walk with and enjoy you, so I have capacity to walk with others along life’s journey, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
In this season of life what does it look like to regularly walk with the Lord? Consider a daily prayer walk outside in God’s creation.
Related Reading
Jeremiah 7:23, 42:3; Micah 4:5; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1
Worship Resource
Ellie Holcomb: I Will Carry You
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