smoldering stacks.

How many times do we get seriously distracted by the "glittery" things in our lives? How many times do we get distracted by the negative things in our lives? How many moments do we just feel distracted? We get discouraged when something doesn't work out our way. And let's face it, anytime there is worry... there is discouragement. We get discouraged when something, someone or some situation keeps us from trusting God.  So easily we start trusting our circumstances over God...

Isaiah 7:4 reads :: "Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands..."

Ok, so God is speaking to King Ahaz through Isaiah. King Ahaz... not a cool dude. Man, God used Isaiah a WHOLE lot during Ahaz's reign... and Ahaz just wouldn't listen... and definitely didn't catch on.  At any rate, there were some other kings that were plotting to come and destroy Judah and kick (let's face it, probably kill) Ahaz. I've gotta be honest, if I were in Ahaz's position, it would be hard for me to trust in God too. But God's just telling him to Stop. Pay attention. Be quiet. Don't worry. I GOT THIS.

You see, God saw these other kings for who they really were. He knew that their plan wouldn't take off... He knew that they wouldn't come in and destroy Judah or Ahaz. Why? Because He's God. He sees all, He knows all. Ahaz saw these two kings like we see a wildfire. He didn't know when they would hit, where they would go, what damage they would do. But God, God saw them as two little stacks of smoldering fire. They wouldn't spread... they wouldn't do any harm. At all. They would just sit there and burn up... maybe put off a little heat, but that would be it.

God wants us to trust Him. It's so hard to do so when all we literally see is a wildfire. I mean, how are we to know what's a wildfire and what's a smoldering stack? Well... lucky for us, God gives us this advice in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 :: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is SEEN, but what is UNSEEN. For what is seen is TEMPORARY and what is unseen is ETERNAL." We aren't meant to see it all... there's no need in us to. That's what we have God for... to trust... and know that He's got this. Jeremiah 29:11 :: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future.

I needed this y'all. I needed to be reminded that God's got this. There's nothing big going on in my life, but I'm waiting for that next step... whatever that is. But, it's great to rest in the fact that all I need to do is

Stop. Pay attention. Be quiet. Don't worry. Trust.

and... maybe I'll even kick at the smoldering stacks, just for fun...