In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it. ~Isaiah 30:15
but you would have none of it. ~Isaiah 30:15
The Iowa State Fair is almost over for 2011. No more funnel cakes and blue ribbons and concerts. No more people stuck on rides or butter on a stick. Not joking, they’re really serving butter on a stick at the fair this year. Pretty sure I feel my arteries clogging just thinking about it.
Sadly, I haven’t made it out to the fair yet this year. I only live a couple miles away—so close I watched fireworks from my window earlier this week and listened to the races a couple nights later. But I’m almost out of time to actually pay my way into the fairgrounds and buy my own bag of cotton candy and coat my teeth with sugar.
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| Sweet musical! If I can’t make it to the fair this year, at least I can watch the Frake family sing about it. |
But I can tell you this: If I do make it to the fair, my favorite fair spot will be the same as it’s been every year—the Skyride. I love those moments of quiet up in the air, watching fairgoers swarming below. It’s a little slice of peace in the midst of rural mania.
Been thinking quite a bit about peace and quiet and rest this week. Possibly because I’m an Iowan at heart and cool summer evenings bring out the “let’s just sit out on the porch, drink lemonade and talk” in me.
But probably moreso because lately there’s been a mental fair going on in my head. Lots playing out-of-control ferris wheel up there. 🙂
Which is why I paused when I read this:
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. ~Isaiah 30:15
I’ve read that verse plenty of times. In fact, even though it doesn’t actually include the word “peace,” it’s one of my go-to verses when I feel a craving for peace. Thing is, I usually stop after the first couple clauses. They are nice and encouraging and profound, yes.
But that last part of the sentence? I don’t know, for some reason it always drops off. And that’s sad because now that I really ponder it—“but you would have none of it”—the implication is vital:
The strength we find in quiet trust is a choice.
And peace? It’s not a blanket of happy feelings dropping from the sky. It’s a choice we make to repent and then rest, to pipe down and seriously trust in a God who’s bigger than whatever’s playing tornado in our head or hearts.
The peace and quiet of the Skyride at the fair ends when dangling feet touch the ground. But in the buzzing fairgrounds that are our thoughts and everyday lives, we get the option of holding on to a Supernatural peace…if we choose it.
Easier said than done, yes. Because hard core trust is not as simple as buckling into a Skyride seat and finding quiet in the everyday takes effort.
But so worth it.
Okay, so question for you: How do you choose quiet and trust in your every day life? And…how much would someone have to pay you to try deep fat fried butter on a stick?
Comments 6
I am constantly reminded that I am not in control of things that happen in my life – God is. It seems that when I try to control things that my life spins out of control. Therefore trusting and resting in Him is my only option.
You could not pay me enough to eat butter on a stick. Sick!
You should go to the fair on Sunday! It’s the final day – entry tickets are half off and the band Tenth Avenue North is playing for free at the Riley Stage at 8:00pm. They are amazing!
Love reading your blog. 🙂
-Tawny Anderson
Thanks, Tawny!! I completely agree…on both giving control to God AND the gross-ness of eating butter on a stick.
I had no idea Tenth Avenue North was playing for free! Where have I been?! Seriously, I need to go that day…
Thanks for reading! Hope all’s well with you!
I’ve never even heard of butter on a stick! I’d eat a deep fried turkey leg for free. 🙂
I get up early every morning. I need those couple hours of quiet to build trust and set up my day. Have a great weekend!
I think this is actually the first year they’ve ever sold that…in honor of the butter cow’s 100th anniversary. Apparently we are big fan’s of butter here in Iowa. 🙂
My bedroom has a window facing east. I leave the curtains pulled back so I glimpse the sunrise each morning. When I do, I try to whisper,”His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great.” A choice to anchor my thoughts to God and his trustworthiness.
And fried button a stick. Nope. No way.
Cotton candy–absolutely. I even eat that stuff they sell in Target in the dollar aisle! I say I’m buying it for my daughter, but . . .
Ahh, Beth, what a great way to start the day. And…I stopped at Target today…totally should’ve bought some cotton candy!