How long can you stand balanced on one foot without wobbling? Although I can’t hold that position very long on either foot, I noticed I am slightly better at it with my right foot than my left. Yeah, I know I should improve my balance but whether right or left it’s an uncomfortable position to maintain for extended periods. Unlike choosing to stand on one foot, we often find ourselves in unpleasant positions in our lives that we would much rather avoid.
Get Posed
As I was reading Isaiah 20 and 21, I noticed Isaiah found himself in a rather odd position—strutting around NAKED and BAREFOOT. Sure we all find ourselves in that exact quandary from time to time but usually its inside the privacy of our homes. Yet, this was not the case for Isaiah. His position was public and one he had to hold for a while.
Then the Lord said, “My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign-a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia. Isaiah 20:3 (NLT)
Did you see that? 3 Years he had to hold that strange position. Not 3 days or 3 months but 3 long years. Whew, talk about uncomfortable and inconvenient. Just imagine what others must have been whispering about him.
It’s Not About the Comfort Level
Despite the oddity of his predicament, he was properly positioned in obedience to God’s instruction.
the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Take off the burlap you have been wearing, and remove your sandals.” Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot. Isaiah 20:2 (NLT)
Some how in between all the naming and proclaiming, we have been bamboozled into believing that we can just skip past all the uncomfortable places. And if some how we do end up there, once we can muster up enough faith or trust, we will be catapulted from the hold position. However, this account of Isaiah shows me that we can be positioned right in obedience without the position feeling right or looking right to us or others.
Photo Credit: Umang Dutt via photo pincc
What Others Are Sharing
- EXPOSED! Baring All for the Glory of God (pinkshoesministries.me)
Hi Wanda,
You are correct, the Lord may lead us to some uncomfortable places for season. In our humanity we would like nothing more than avoiding those trials, or keeping them short and sweet. More times than not, the Lord’s timing is way different than mine. But Hie work and plan is always better than mine and He never wastes those uncomfortable experiences in our lives if we will yield to Him.
Have a great weekend. Susan
Definitely I’d prefer short and sweet if I must go through uncomfortable seasons but only God knows the exact time it takes to produce what needs to be within me. You’re absolutely right, it’s never wasted even though we don’t fully understand how it all fits into his divine plan.
“we can be positioned right in obedience without the position feeling right or looking right to us or others. ”
very interesting observation, Wanda. I love it. Obedience is the Key!
Yes obedience is the key! Hope the week ahead is a blessed for you & yours Patrina.
Wanda I am certainly learning to walk and hold my ground. Holding on to the Lord tightly as He leads me through my journey. Thank you for sharing.
To not just get into position but to hold until is valuable lesson JBR. Anyone can get in position but I think many of us fail we it comes to the consistently enduring in position until the instructions change.
Awesome word! Thank U! 🙂
Thanks Susan, I pray you will maintain your position. Have a great week.
Wanda, I am so glad I’m reading this today. I had a personal trainer a few years ago who would ask me to stand still, then he would stand in front of me and push at my shoulder to see how long I could maintain that stand. He would start pushing gently and then become gradually tougher. I could not hit back or hold on to anything. I just had to stand. He said it was intended to show how much strength I had, but it always felt as if he was trying to knock me back. That is how I’ve felt recently. Standing in position is hard enough without feeling as if you’re being pushed backward too. Thank God that what we see and how we feel is not where our faith is based. May we all be strengthened to endure.
Thank you for sharing LaVonne. To fight against ourselves to hold the position is one thing but to fight outside forces that are attempting to move us out of the place of obedience adds another dimension to the fight to remain steadfast.
Oh! You are preaching the WORD! I love it! Yes, uncomfortable but obedient….one of the hardests positions to hold!
Thank you for the encouragement today. I am refreshed by your godly insight!
Thank you Alisa! Those passages just stood out to me. In today’s time we long for comfort but when walking in obedience to our Lord, He never promises us we would find every places comfort but our end is a a good one. Blessings to you. Hope you have a great week.
Yes, discomfort teaches us! I am still learning this lesson. This post makes me think about all of the awkward, uneasy moments and what did I learn! Thanks Wanda for sharing this powerful message 😀
There really is a lesson in just about anything we encountered. Just the other day my sister mentioned something that reminded me of the lesson I learned from a very public fall.
Painfully true!!!! But who are we in the hands of a sovereign God?
Hi Emmah, we are just the clay in the master’s hands and only He knows what it takes to make us into vessel fit for His purposes. Hope you have a great week.