I've been reading the Old Testament in the Bible lately. In the past, I have always been a New Testament reader, as I find things much more applicable to my daily life. Sure, there are always the typical Old Testament inspirational readings from Psalm and Proverbs, and my favorite book of Job. And then there are stories we read the kids about Adam and Eve in Genesis and how God created the world.

But I've been struggling lately and for some reason, I flipped open to the book of Isaiah. It's sixty-six chapters of prophecy and things that seem way over my head. There are at least 25 Hebrew words found in Isaiah that occur in no other prophetic writing. Isaiah wrote the book during a tumultuous time of the Assyrian empire, and the decline of Israel. He wrote during what we may relate to as the "depression" era, when things just looked grim and there was a lack of hope in the future. Isaiah is a book that reveals God's judgment and salvation, yet also His compassion and rescue from spiritual and political oppression.

For whatever reason, I have particularly been drawn to the 30th chapter. Lately, I have been in the struggle of where I find my strength. Though I have always KNOWN my strength comes when I am pursuing and closer in communion with God, I often forget it, neglect it and misunderstand the ways in which He is choosing to show me His provision, protection and power. In troubling times, I am very easily drawn to rely on friends, family and things within my comfort zone. Many times...MOST times...I shut down and keep to myself.

But then as I was reading in Isaiah, I came across a verse that was so powerful. It hit me. It was the latter part of verse 15. Isaiah was speaking to an obstinate and rebellious nation when he gave them this reminder in the verse..."In quietness and trust is your strength".

My lack of trust, particularly in the work of God, is embarrassing. My lack of patience, even moreso. Yet time and again, God proves Himself faithful to me and brings me to the place He needs me to be, to remember that He, indeed, in the source of my strength. Later in Isaiah 30 in the 21st verse, he says "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying 'This is the way; walk in it'". Though not audibly heard, that "voice" has been clear to me, telling me the way I need to walk, showing me the path I need to take, instructing me in the way I need to go. I have not been walking in the direction God wants me to walk. I've been fighting it, in fact, thinking that my own way is much better because it's much more fun and definitely more easy. The road with more challenges that requires more faith and trust is the more rewarding road in the long run. This is my way. I am walking in it.