Don’t Fight These Arms

Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.

In quietness and confidence is your strength.

But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:15 (NLT)

Meltdowns are messy. Meltdowns are exhausting. Both for the child and the parents. I remember watching my husband soothe our son when he was little. Arms wrapped around our thrashing child, Len would hold him tightly against his chest so our little boy wouldn’t hurt himself. The whole time, Len would murmur, “Stop thrashing. When you stop kicking and flailing, I will release you.” Unfortunately, our son didn’t grasp the fact that if he’d simply stop resisting his father’s loving arms, he would be released.

            The people of Judah were a strong-willed nation. They rebelled and fought against God’s love even when He urged them to “Stop struggling. Rest in me. Be still, and you will find my intentions are to help you, not harm you.” Instead of surrendering to the One who cared for them unconditionally, they resisted His loving arms to pursue their own self-harmful behavior.

            The people of Judah weren’t the only ones who wrestled with God. Every one of us is born with a sinful nature. We don’t have to teach our kids to say, “no!” It comes naturally. Mercifully, God’s grace is greater than our own rebellion. Patiently, He quells our stubborn, defiant nature and urges us to stop resisting. When we finally stop striving against Him and rest in His love then we realize His embrace is actually the safest place you and I could ever be.

Thought: “If there be anything that can render the soul calm, dissipate its scruples and dispel its fears, sweeten its sufferings by the anointing of love, impart strength to all its actions, and spread abroad the joy of the Holy Spirit in its countenance and words, it is this simple and childlike repose in the arms of God.” – S.D. Gordon

For further reading:

• Isaiah 30:18
• James 4:7
• John 3:16
• Zephaniah 3:17