"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3
It is the easiest thing to focus solely on ourselves in any given situation or circumstance. It is, indeed, quite natural. The crisis comes, and we turn inward because at the end of the day we are all we know for sure, the only sure ground in our minds. Even the most self-demoralized person imaginable relies solely on their self (for it is their own minds that ultimately convinces them that they are nothing). Of course, every time we trust only ourselves, that final confidence is broken at the last, and when we crash into the ground and taste the dust, we have two choices: stay down and be consumed by despair, or lift your eyes to Heaven and let Heaven Himself pick you up.
To "believe in yourself" is sheer nonsense. Only maniacs and lunatics in an asylum truly "believe" in themselves, i.e., have themselves, their reason and their will, as the only reality they believe in. Nothing is more maddening and tyrannical than "believing" in yourself. In addition, placing final trust in yourself makes no practical sense: when chaos comes, why turn to the one who is bewildered by it? When truth is hidden, why look to the enlightenment of the one who is confused? When danger arises, why trust in the ability of the one who is afraid? If it is true (as stated earlier) that you are the only sure ground that you know of in the end, then you need to get some new ground under your legs. Moreover, just as you saw yourself as a sure ground because you know (at least you think you know) yourself, so your new ground will be relational. In fact, the only true and sure ground there is is found in a relationship, a relationship with the Lord God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
Keeping your focus on God does not mean that your problem will be immediately fixed (if at all). It means that you will have "perfect peace," i.e., peace that is complete and whole. Indeed, we need complete peace more than we need fixed problems.
"Trust in the Lord forever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength..." Isaiah 26:4
The Bible nowhere talks about "doing" things for God, though it talks a great deal about trusting Him. It is less like you are doing something that God must approve, and more like God is doing something that you are swept up in. You are along for the ride; now, will you trust God's direction and movements, or try and steer for yourself? It's bad enough when God is your co-pilot instead of your pilot, but I think most of us today do not even bother getting near God's car; we prefer our own ride, thank you.
How many ministries and works today are "arm of the flesh" endeavors? How many of us are moving and working with our own strengths out of a sense of duty for God instead of trusting God's strength out of love for God. "To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission," sang Steve Green. Too few of us are swept up into God's will, and too many of us are trying to make God's will happen in our own way, in our own work. If the foundation for what we are doing is based on ourselves (i.e., our strength, our duty), it is just as bad as "believing" in ourselves, and just as maddening. More Christians are driven to insanity by self-actualized ministries than they are by obviously besetting sins. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm," (Jeremiah 17:5) and that includes your own arm.
Another way to translate "everlasting strength" is "Rock of Ages," and here we are seeing one of this rock's two natures, i.e., the only eternal foundation. In God is strength forever, in God there is limitless energy. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." (Jeremiah 17:7) Perhaps a long time ago Matthew 28:18-20 was the only verses to take to heart when one came to minister; nowadays it is better to add Jeremiah 17:5-8. We need to seriously evaluate what our foundation is and where our hope truly lies.
"...for He bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, He layeth it low; He layeth it low, even to the ground; He bringeth it even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy." Isaiah 26:5, 6
Here we see the second of the Rock of Ages' two natures. The first was as the only sure foundation; now we see it as the destroyer of all other foundations. One way be reminded of the rock that haunted Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:31-44): it not only set up itself as the unbreakable kingdom, but also took the legs out from under all the other kingdoms. The same is here: God is the only salvation and the consummate destroyer of lesser saviors.
Perhaps we think God cruel to be knocking people's legs out from under them all the time; but then again, if someone was standing on quicksand or a sinkhole and they would not budge, the only compassionate thing to do would be to knock them down and drag them out, kicking and screaming if they must. If what we are standing on is certain death to us, if all other ground is indeed "sinking sand," then we are fools to stand there. God is only cruel in knocking us down if the ground that we stand on is just as legitimate as His; but one point He keeps driving at over and over again in His word is that all other grounds are not as legitimate. They are not even close, not even ground. A more accurate description would be "feet planted firmly in midair." The only inevitable result is to fall.
Being brought low is the first step towards salvation of the soul, and it is low indeed: so low that even those whom society condemns as low (i.e., the poor and needy) can walk on you. You must taste of the dust before you can taste of the clouds; only when all other ground is lost can we see the solid rock, only when you descend can you truly ascend.
"My dead legs offend me,
And you cut them asunder
To give me hinds' legs
To walk in high places."
-Jon Vowell
It is the easiest thing to focus solely on ourselves in any given situation or circumstance. It is, indeed, quite natural. The crisis comes, and we turn inward because at the end of the day we are all we know for sure, the only sure ground in our minds. Even the most self-demoralized person imaginable relies solely on their self (for it is their own minds that ultimately convinces them that they are nothing). Of course, every time we trust only ourselves, that final confidence is broken at the last, and when we crash into the ground and taste the dust, we have two choices: stay down and be consumed by despair, or lift your eyes to Heaven and let Heaven Himself pick you up.
To "believe in yourself" is sheer nonsense. Only maniacs and lunatics in an asylum truly "believe" in themselves, i.e., have themselves, their reason and their will, as the only reality they believe in. Nothing is more maddening and tyrannical than "believing" in yourself. In addition, placing final trust in yourself makes no practical sense: when chaos comes, why turn to the one who is bewildered by it? When truth is hidden, why look to the enlightenment of the one who is confused? When danger arises, why trust in the ability of the one who is afraid? If it is true (as stated earlier) that you are the only sure ground that you know of in the end, then you need to get some new ground under your legs. Moreover, just as you saw yourself as a sure ground because you know (at least you think you know) yourself, so your new ground will be relational. In fact, the only true and sure ground there is is found in a relationship, a relationship with the Lord God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
Keeping your focus on God does not mean that your problem will be immediately fixed (if at all). It means that you will have "perfect peace," i.e., peace that is complete and whole. Indeed, we need complete peace more than we need fixed problems.
"Trust in the Lord forever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength..." Isaiah 26:4
The Bible nowhere talks about "doing" things for God, though it talks a great deal about trusting Him. It is less like you are doing something that God must approve, and more like God is doing something that you are swept up in. You are along for the ride; now, will you trust God's direction and movements, or try and steer for yourself? It's bad enough when God is your co-pilot instead of your pilot, but I think most of us today do not even bother getting near God's car; we prefer our own ride, thank you.
How many ministries and works today are "arm of the flesh" endeavors? How many of us are moving and working with our own strengths out of a sense of duty for God instead of trusting God's strength out of love for God. "To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission," sang Steve Green. Too few of us are swept up into God's will, and too many of us are trying to make God's will happen in our own way, in our own work. If the foundation for what we are doing is based on ourselves (i.e., our strength, our duty), it is just as bad as "believing" in ourselves, and just as maddening. More Christians are driven to insanity by self-actualized ministries than they are by obviously besetting sins. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm," (Jeremiah 17:5) and that includes your own arm.
Another way to translate "everlasting strength" is "Rock of Ages," and here we are seeing one of this rock's two natures, i.e., the only eternal foundation. In God is strength forever, in God there is limitless energy. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." (Jeremiah 17:7) Perhaps a long time ago Matthew 28:18-20 was the only verses to take to heart when one came to minister; nowadays it is better to add Jeremiah 17:5-8. We need to seriously evaluate what our foundation is and where our hope truly lies.
"...for He bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, He layeth it low; He layeth it low, even to the ground; He bringeth it even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy." Isaiah 26:5, 6
Here we see the second of the Rock of Ages' two natures. The first was as the only sure foundation; now we see it as the destroyer of all other foundations. One way be reminded of the rock that haunted Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:31-44): it not only set up itself as the unbreakable kingdom, but also took the legs out from under all the other kingdoms. The same is here: God is the only salvation and the consummate destroyer of lesser saviors.
Perhaps we think God cruel to be knocking people's legs out from under them all the time; but then again, if someone was standing on quicksand or a sinkhole and they would not budge, the only compassionate thing to do would be to knock them down and drag them out, kicking and screaming if they must. If what we are standing on is certain death to us, if all other ground is indeed "sinking sand," then we are fools to stand there. God is only cruel in knocking us down if the ground that we stand on is just as legitimate as His; but one point He keeps driving at over and over again in His word is that all other grounds are not as legitimate. They are not even close, not even ground. A more accurate description would be "feet planted firmly in midair." The only inevitable result is to fall.
Being brought low is the first step towards salvation of the soul, and it is low indeed: so low that even those whom society condemns as low (i.e., the poor and needy) can walk on you. You must taste of the dust before you can taste of the clouds; only when all other ground is lost can we see the solid rock, only when you descend can you truly ascend.
"My dead legs offend me,
And you cut them asunder
To give me hinds' legs
To walk in high places."
-Jon Vowell
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