Be Still and Know...

January 12, 2017

Day 12:  Set Aside Your Answers to Hear His:
"Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes.  That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing." —Isaiah 6:10

I like the title of today's reading, but the scripture set me back a little bit, though I have read it before. I might not like the idea, but I understand the sentiment all the same.  When we think we have it all together and believe we know the way things should go and what is best for us, it would be better for us to not know so that we have to rely on God and His wisdom.  (As you can see I am having trouble using the pronouns She/Her—I think I will just stick to the male pronouns. God is male in my mind and I suppose there is no use in fighting that).  Anyway, the scripture makes sense because people tend to turn to God when there is nowhere else to turn, and in the end it would be what is best for us, so why fight it?  So God should harden, plug, shut, take away understanding—just get on with it. We will end up at his feet as some point either way.  Why wait?   It makes me think of the scriptures that warn us to not lean on our own understanding because "There is a way that appears right [to a man], but in the end leads to death" (Proverbs 16:25) and "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel" (Proverbs 12:15).

The story that Dr. Anderson shared in today's reading was about a man who came to him believing he had a rare form of cancer.  He had read an article on the internet that gave a list of symptoms that he was personally experiencing.  Dr. Anderson was able to quickly rule out cancer.  The man was actually suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and all of his worrying was making it worse.  He used this story to remind us that "coming up with our own answers to physical or spiritual problems can often make us anxious."  He encourages us to rely on God and as support uses my favorite scripture: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).  He suggests that "when we go to God with our list of answers, telling him what we think is wrong, we miss an opportunity to hear his wise diagnosis."  We should go to God prepared to listen.  The reason I am so fond of Psalm 46:10 is that it really is the answer to all worries.  He is God!  What can man do to us?  What good does it do for us to worry? God has everything under control and according to Jeremiah 29:11 he has our best interest in mind. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  If I could only grasp those ideas and hold them fast in the deepest part of my being without doubt or fear.  How liberating that would be!  I could escape the anxiety of every kind of worry or concern that passes through my mind and those that plague my heart.  Fears even about God himself and his plans for me, his plans for my family and his plans for my country.  I just need to simply "Be still, and know..."

I have this sign hanging in my laundry room, which I am in every day because it is also the area where we take care of our kitties' needs: food, beds, litter box.  I put it there to remind myself of God's presence and power. Perhaps I need to put similar signs in multiple places around my house.  Maybe then it would begin to really sink in.  😃 I can hope, right?