February 17th | Stop Striving and Trust God
- CoachJasonMays
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Most of us struggle to find true peace when problems press in from every side. In those moments, we face a choice: lean on our own strength or trust in God's unshakable promises.
Understanding Isaiah 7: Will King Ahaz Trust God?
In the book of Isaiah, specifically chapter 7, we learn about a tough time for King Ahaz. He was the son of Jotham and the grandson of Uzziah, and he ruled over Judah.
The Challenge King Ahaz Faced
During his reign, Ahaz found himself in a serious situation. The northern kingdom of Israel, known as Ephraim, teamed up with Aram (which is also called Syria) to attack Judah. This was a big deal because it meant that Ahaz was facing threats not just from outsiders, but also from his own people.
The Impact on Ahaz and His People
The news of this attack made Ahaz and his people really scared. The Bible describes their fear by saying, “their hearts trembled like trees of the forest shaken by the wind” (Isaiah 7:2). This means they felt extremely anxious and overwhelmed, just like how trees shake violently in a strong storm. So, in summary, King Ahaz was dealing with a huge crisis that made him and his kingdom feel very vulnerable and afraid.
Betrayal or hardship from unexpected places—like family, close friends, a job we thought was secure, a sudden medical diagnosis, financial strain, or marriage conflict—can amplify our fear and leave us feeling unsteady in the storm.
Yet God sent Isaiah with a direct message to Ahaz: “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart…” (Isaiah 7:4). The Lord described the threatening kings as mere “smoldering stubs of firewood”—fleeting and powerless against His plan.
This echoes New Testament truth in Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything.” But how do we actually live that out when life hits hard?
Worry often reveals where our trust really lies. When we choose anxiety over faith, we replace trust in God with self-reliance: obsessive planning, playing the victim, deflecting blame, avoiding accountability, or chasing human solutions like alliances, wealth, or schemes.
Isaiah later warns, “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it” (Isaiah 8:12). We can't find security in human power, alliances, or material things.
Instead, God offers this promise: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).
The path to peace isn't striving harder—it's stopping the striving and choosing steadfast trust in God. When our minds stay fixed on Him, He guards our hearts with perfect peace. That same trust gives us the strength to obey His commands: stop worrying, don't fear, stand firm in faith.
Today, whatever storm is shaking you, hear God's word afresh: Be calm. Don't be afraid. Trust in Him, and let His perfect peace hold you steady.