Isaiah 30:20-21-And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

As much as no one prays for “adversity and affliction” to come their way, it is a sign of God’s sovereignty to bring it.  So we can conclude the believer’s peace comes not by seeking rest in prestige and favorable circumstances, but true peace and rest in God comes from being broken and healed from the affliction(s) He sends…(Isaiah 61:1)

Because of Israel’s rebellion, to walk in their own stubborn counsel and revert back to Egypt, God’s actions in covenant love for Israel, would come and “break them” of their reliance and confidence they had in themselves.  So they could experience God in true rest, by way of trust and confidence in His strength to walk in His ways and will…(Isaiah 30:9-14, Hebrews 4:6-11)

The one thing that being broken by affliction and adversity does for our benefit, is teach us the fear of the Lord.  The passage above alludes to once Israel was truly broken, by His grace they would see their Lord, and upon seeing Him, listen/obey His ways and counsel.  The true test of fearing the Lord after being broken, is whether we live to seek, listen, and obey…(Proverbs 15:33, Matthew 5:3,6)

This mindset from being broken by God may not seem like great love and mercy, but it is if it teaches us to turn from our stubborn ways and humbly seek Him for true rest.  Because we all know of someone who has been sent the “bread of adversity and water of affliction”, yet hasn’t received the grace to turn from their stubbornness, but has remain hardened…(Hebrews 12:17, 2 Timothy 2:25-26, 1 Peter 2:20-21)

It’s possible to continue going through adversity after adversity, and never really renew our mind to grow in dependence on God.  That we could go about life enduring affliction and by God’s mercy “get through it”, yet not grow downward in humility, broken to grow in His rest, confidence, and strength.  Mainly because we see adversity to get through and not grow from, yet brokenness is the only road to true intimacy in Christ for fruitful rest.  (Genesis 41:52, 2 Corinthians 7:10)

In His Love, Ld