Look to the One
“You saw that the walls of the City of David were broken through in many places; you stored up water in the Lower Pool. You counted the buildings in Jerusalem and tore down houses to strengthen the wall. You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.” – Isaiah 22:9-11
Stop. Wherever you are. At work. On the train. Checking email in bed. Whatever you are worried about – whatever you’re fearing, dreading, planning – that thing that you can’t get out of your head: Have you prayed about it?
If you’re like me, the answer is probably no. I’m probably checking email in bed right now too, reading my own words, thinking what you’re thinking: Dang, this guy is a great writer!
But also, No, I haven’t prayed about that thing! I’m too busy planning to pray about it!
These words from Isaiah hit me between the eyes. The citizens of Jerusalem are freaking out. Babylon has fallen. Assyria is on its way. They’re preparing for a siege. They’re storing up water. They’re reinforcing the walls.
The one thing they aren’t doing is looking to the One. The One who made the city. The One who made them. The One who could shoulder the burden of that thing.
That’s me. In bed. On the train. At work. Trying to figure out how I’m going to handle it all. Trying not to think about it. Trying not to let my emotions show.
When I could just turn to the One.
Prayer
God, there’s this thing I need to talk to you about…
About the AuthorVince Amlin is co-pastor of Bethany UCC, Chicago, and co-planter of Gilead Church Chicago, forming now.