Lazy Rivers

My favorite ride at the water park is the lazy river:  so soothing and comfortable.  No need to scream or clutch my husband's arm in terror or do the claustrophobic panic thing.  Just ride along and watch people.  So noncommittal. 

 

Lest we think that trusting God is like that, just riding along on His almighty coattails, taking in the view, let's read Isaiah 55:1-2.  Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Look at all those verbs!  Come.  Buy.  Eat.  Listen.  Delight.  In case you missed this one: Listen diligently. 

Of course, we know that it is only by God's grace that we are able to come and listen (See Ephesians 2:8-10), but there is still a call to us.  Trust is active and not lazy.  It's not "letting go and letting God"; rather, it is working to know God, listening, eating the rich food He lays before us in His Word, "spending" our time/energy/thoughts on Him, delighting in who He is and the work He has done on our behalf. 

Can you trust someone you do not know?  Would you leave problems in the hands of a stranger?  Trusting is work, active work. 

So go ahead and sit.  But while you are sitting, soak in His Word, strive to understand Him and His ways, review the work He has already done in your life, lay that burden down, lay it down.  I mean it, lay it down.  There.  Now that is trust.