Exhortation Station

Isaiah 30:15 — “For thus the Lord YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.’…”

Lately I’ve been thinking about this passage in Isaiah.  This verse is a real encouragement to me.  A couple weeks ago I began my sixth semester at college.  Class assignments have been piling up fast, and last week I was battling a cold for a few days.  In times like this, it is very easy for me to want to feel in control of everything, yet I have continually been reminded of how many things are beyond my control.  It’s a great comfort to know that Yah’s design is that His children find strength in simple quietness and trust in Him.  Listen to the following words of Moses, spoken just before Yahweh split the Red Sea in front of the sons of Israel.

Exodus 14:13-14 — “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of YHWH which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. ¹⁴ YHWH will fight for you while you keep silent.'”

There they were — Pharaoh on one side and the Red Sea on the other.  Then Moses tells the people that “Yahweh will fight for you while you keep silent.”  That’s cool!

Yah allows us to face mountains that are bigger than us, and when He does, it’s an opportunity for us to quietly trust Him with hearts of humility, repentance, and rest.  Next time you face something challenging, I encourage you to bring Isaiah 30:15 out of your toolbox and to apply your heart to quiet trust in Him.

Psalm 116:5-7 — “Gracious is YHWH, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. ⁶ YHWH preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. ⁷ Return to your rest, O my soul, for YHWH has dealt bountifully with you.”

(Bible passages NASB; Hebrew transl. added.)