But…

Jeremiah 6:16 captures my attention, together with Isaiah 30:15,16.
“For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest, you shall be delivered; in quietness and trust is your strength…’” (Isa 30:15).
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it and you shall find rest for your soul…’” (Jer 6:16).
The connection, you ask? Obviously, Both contain promises: deliverance, strength, direction, a good way, rest, promises that stand on the integrity of the One who delivers them: the LORD, the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel.
Given the attractiveness of the promises and the credibility of the One who makes them, you would think there would be a long line (or, queue, I’m bilingual) of folks, eager to take God up on them. Yet, as we read these passages in context, we discover a much different reality!
To God’s promises of deliverance and strength, the response was “But you [those to whom the promises were made] were not willing, and you said, ‘No’….” To His promises of direction, a good way and rest, we read: “But [you] said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Israel’s responses remind me of a statement made by C.S. Lewis which says (somewhat butchered by a faulty memory): “When offered a holiday at the beach, we would much rather sit in dirty puddles and make mud pies.”
What changes might be wrought if whole communities of God’s people stood together, should to shoulder, and declared, “We are willing; we will say ‘Yes’: we will walk in the way [no ‘buts’ about it]!”
Time to stop saying, “But…”! Where are you saying “But…” to God?