Diligent, desperate perseverance

I read to Cal last night the chapter "Galactic Grandeur" from Sam Storms' book One Thing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God. I had picked up the book off of Wendy's shelf last week, intrigued by the title, and longing for someone to show me a clearer view of the infinite, eternal, unchanging God we worship. In this particular chapter Storms goes to great lengths to explain to our feeble minds just how big the universe really is. (My dad would have loved this book with all its mathematical, astronomical calculations!).

At the end of the chapter is this discussion from Isaiah 40:

". . . four things are said. First, God created [the sun, moon, and stars which we are commanded not to worship in Deuteronomy 4:19]. When once there was nothing, save God, he spoke and they leapt into being. The only reason why there's something rather than nothing is because God said so. Second, he 'brings out their host by number'. They stand at attention, as it were, and are set in place according to his sovereign decree. Third, he calls them all by name, reflecting his creative right of ownership. Finally, because of 'the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one is missing'.

"So why do you continue to complain that your 'way is hidden from the LORD' and that he has disregarded the justice due to you (v.27)? Isaiah puts in our mouths the question we all ask: 'Where is God? . . . Why doesn't he take action? . . .

"Isaiah is incredulous at such murmuring. 'Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable; (v. 28) .

"The good news is that God isn't greedy with His strength. He's generous and will share with us all whatever we need. 'He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength' (v. 29) . . .

"In verse 30 Isaiah takes as an example the most energetic and strong and durable individual on earth: the young man, most likely the athlete or soldier who isn't hampered by the onset of old age. Humans at their peak and pinnacle still have limited resources. If the best we have to offer eventually wears down, what hope is there in anything humans can do or provide?

"But we mustn't despair, for 'they who wait for he LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint' (v.31).

"This isn't passive inactivity, but diligent, desperate perseverance. Waiting on God entails three elements: (1) complete dependence on him (embracing the truth of what he has just said and actively entrusting one's soul and circumstances to the God who does what he says he does); (2) yielding to his schedule, i.e., patiently acquiescing to the wisdom of his timing, not ours; and (3) seeking God's face, pressing in to know him better and to love him more.

"This is an unnatural strength that comes to otherwise helpless people. A supernatural strength that makes ordinary, weak people seem as if they can go on and on and on as effortlessly as the eagle soars above. And it all began by looking up, by beholding the beauty of God in the heavens he has made.

"Wherever I turn I hear the all too familiar complaint: ' I need more faith. If only I could believe.' Tragically, the best counsel they get is to look inward, to search their souls, to castigate their spirit, to wrench their wills, with the hope that a mere drop of faith might ooze out and get them over the hump.

"But consider what we've learned in this chapter. Do you realize how easily faith comes when you have a God like this? We struggle to believe that God is up to the task of handling our lives. Can he really be trusted? . . . When you find yourself falling into doubt, simply lift up your eyes on high and gaze upon his handiwork. Listen to the heavens sing. Bend an ear to the story of the stars. Behold your God!"