May 10, 2022
Isaiah 17:12 NLT (New Living Translation)
Listen! The armies of many nations roar like the roaring of the sea. Hear the thunder of the mighty forces as they rush forward like thundering waves.
Pastor's Commentary
Like the seas that rush to shore and then slip back into the ocean, we often find ourselves gaining nothing when we rush. Rushing will also cause us to make mistakes, make bad decisions, and miss opportunities.
The same is true with our spiritual lives. When we rush, we cannot hear that soft, still voice of the LORD. And when we find ourselves in the middle of a self-created mess, we say something like, “something told me to….” That was God speaking, but we rushed past the warning signs.
When I was in the Air Force, an often-repeated saying was, “hurry up, and wait.” I was reminded of this when shopping and got out of one line and rushed to get in what appeared to be a shorter one. But as it turned out, the people behind me in the line I rushed out of got waited on before I did.
Our society appears to want everything right now. But fast food is not as good or beneficial as a home-cooked meal. Convenience can be an inconvenience if we do not stop and take time to listen and think things through. The saying “slow down and live” can also apply to our spiritual lives.
So don’t rush to get in a shorter line.