08/22/2026
What does it mean when scripture tells us to rest, be quiet, and trust the Lord? How does it sit with us when it says that this is our strength, and our salvation? To us this sounds so foreign because we feel like there must be something that God would have us do. We want to be actively involved like the young David who used his sling to slay Goliath. Yet in many scriptures we are told that by just sitting in the presence of God, and waiting on Him we will experience our greatest strength... and so often we resist this... we are unwilling.
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling,”
Isaiah 30:15 ESV
A few years ago, a group of scientists performed a research study into a phenomenon that youth sports coaches had identified. It was their observation that a child who was performing a sport at a certain level when one season ended, would return the next year and immediately play the sport at a substantially higher skill level than before. In researching this claim the scientists concluded that not only was this true, but that it was true even when the child didn’t practice or participate in that or any other sport during the off-season. So, what could explain this? After much testing and deliberation, the study finally concluded that even while the child was not practicing, the brain must be replaying the necessary skills over and over again within itself, and thus they continued to learn.
As I read this sports study, I began to think about its interesting observation; then I thought about how the Lord tells us to be still and allow Him to be our strength. Is our spirit strengthened much like a child’s brain and body at rest? Do we grow spiritually in our resting, and being still in God, or is there something else at work here? After much deliberation I finally concluded that our faith might grow partially due to our subconscious activity as we rest, but primarily it is from the amazing influence of God Himself, by His abiding in us, and providing actively for us in the world. I determined that I could explain this increase in understanding by applying the sports study’s logic, but I couldn’t establish a link to the physical happenings outside of ourselves.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
Psalms 37:7 ESV
So, if we look once more at young David, we could postulate that his skill with a sling might have come as the result of practice and quiet contemplation, but how would we explain that the king would allow this young fellow to fight for the entire nation? Was he just in the right place at the wrong time? Was he to be a sacrifice so that the rest of Israel could live peacefully in subjugation to the Philistines? Or was God with Him and at work in his life.
“And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!"”
1 Samuel 17:37 ESV
Without the intervention of God this doesn’t make sense, how would it be that this boy would even be allowed to touch Saul’s armor let alone represent Israel, and yet they attempted to dress him up like a soldier, even though David was too small and couldn’t wear the armor. Then David went onto the field of battle and faced the mighty Goliath. God was actively at work here.
There are those who by their very nature must work hard outwardly at their faith in God, while other faithful men and women historically sequestered themselves in monasteries, and convents, where they would peacefully seek God and Jesus Christ; they would have taken these scriptures to heart by denying their own human nature, and instead trusted in God completely.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.”
Psalms 62:5-7 ESV
Are we prepared to obey and find rest in Jesus Christ? Are we ready to be quiet and trust ultimately in God’s will? Do we know what are we “waiting” on when we do this? Quite simply we are waiting on God’s Will to be revealed to us. After all, we are nothing special outside of that will... without His will we are merely human. Are we prepared to rest and allow the Lord to be our strength, or must we go to the gymnasium of faith, and work at increasing our own strength? If we are determined to exercise our own personal efforts at faith then how will we ever deal with the concept of God’s Will and His Grace that we have been given through Jesus?
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
He is our strength, and the one who looks over us. It is during our time of rest, and through His gift of peace that we gain understanding, and receive the knowledge of His will for us. Outside of this we are doomed to wander lost.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your voice as I rest and find peace within you. I thank you for the revelation of your will for me in the quiet moments of my life. Help me to be still today Father, and to gain in faith as you teach me in the calm of your presence. Let me hear your desire for me in a whisper, and gather my strength as I go about obeying your will. My trust always resides in you Abba, and my strength finds its fountain flowing deep from within the soothing peace of your mercy and grace. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who speaks to me from the quiet stillness, and with a soft and small voice of everlasting affection and truth you say that you love me… and I, from deep in my soul, reply to you in kind. It is in the quiet and restful moments of our togetherness that I find my trust in you, and the strength to do your will. In the still of both the day and Night I quietly do your will and give you all the glory and honor.
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Rich Forbes