“They’re about to wheel me into surgery,” he says…

His voice over the phone is groggy…

Struggling to talk through the effects of a “happy shot”.

The message from last night had said, “Call me tomorrow”…

So I called him.

We are working on a business deal…

He’s a big part of the deal…

I get off the phone as fast as I can.

Surgery?

He was talking on his cell phone about a business deal while he waited for surgery?

Who, I wondered, would talk on their cell phone at such a critical time?

Who would be unable to shut out the noise of the world when it really mattered?

Then I remember…

Me.

A few years ago I was in the hospital…

“Rest,” the doctors said.

“Relax.”

“Be still.”

The Doctors left the room..

There was a knock and the door opened again…

“I’m here for your evaluation,” said a woman in a white medical coat.

“Could we do this later?” I ask…

“I have to finish this text, and then I have a conference call…”

“And then…”

I wasn’t paying much attention to what the doctors said..

“Be still…”

“Be calm…”

“Rest…”

I heard them..

But I thought that what I was doing was too important to stop.

Sometimes I can even be that way with God…

God says…

 …“Be still, and know that I am God;  Psalm 46:10

I say…

“Sorry God, but I’m too busy to be still right now…”

“This project is really important…

“It will take all my strength to finish it…”

And so I move forward…

Relying on my own supposed strength…

Forgetting God has said…

…they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Forgetting that God tells us that we should not rely on our own strength…

 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Isaiah 40:28-29

We should rely on the strength of God Himself …

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”  Isaiah 41:13