All the nations roar, God still rules!

January 18
Week Three – Do Not Trust the Nations

“Listen! The armies of many nations roar like the roaring of the sea. Hear the thunder of the mighty forces as they rush forward like thundering waves.

But though they thunder like breakers on a beach, God will silence them, and they will run away. They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind, like a tumbleweed whirling before a storm. In the evening Israel waits in terror, but by dawn its enemies are dead.

This is the just reward of those who plunder us, a fitting end for those who destroy us.” Isaiah‬ ‭17‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalms‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Break It Down

Isaiah gives us an image that feels strikingly familiar.

The nations roar. Peoples surge. Power is displayed loudly and publicly. It’s far from subtle. It’s meant to be seen and heard.

We live in a time where this seems to be close at hand. Nations posture. Leaders speak boldly. Alliances are formed. Threats are made. Strength is projected for the world to see.

The noise is constant. And it can feel unsettling. But Isaiah reminds us that for all their sound and fury, the nations are not sovereign.

By morning, the roar is gone. Not because humanity found the answer, but because God is still ruling.

God’s Intention

This passage is not telling us to ignore the world. It’s teaching us how to see it clearly from God’s perspective. A right perspective.

Human power loves to announce itself.
It loves visibility, dominance, and control. And it always wants to be seen as decisive, strong, and unchallenged.

But Isaiah pulls back the curtain. No matter how convincing the performance, intimidating the display, or how real the threat feels,

God remains the main actor.

The nations respond. God initiates. And when we forget that order, fear quickly fills the gap.

Weave It In

Jesus shows us the same truth on a different stage.

A storm rises. Waves crash. Fear spreads through the boat. And Jesus speaks.

“Quiet. Be still.”

No drama. No force. No panic. And just like that the storm stops. And the point is, it’s not just about the weather is it? This moment reveals His authority.

The same God who speaks peace to the sea
is the One Isaiah describes as speaking into the chaos of nations.

Creation listens. History listens. God does not shout to be heard. He simply speaks.

A Needed Voice from David

And as the nations rage and roar about us, it can become overwhelming. David understood the pressures of the world, leadership, threat, and responsibility. He lived in a world of conflict and uncertainty, not unlike ours.

And yet he reaches a quiet conclusion: Some things are too big for me. Psalms‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭2‬

Rather than striving to control what he couldn’t carry, David chose a different posture. He calmed his soul. He stepped out of God’s seat and he allowed God to be God.

This wasn’t disengagement. This is trust.

If you’d like to reflect further on this idea of quieting the mind and releasing what is not ours to carry, you may find it helpful to read the blog on MiredClay titled “I Have a Sound Mind.”

Practice for Today

Pay attention today to the noise that surrounds you. The headlines. The commentary and the predictions. The strong opinions pulling you toward fear or outrage.

Ask yourself honestly: What am I being invited to react to? And where is God inviting me instead to trust?

You were never meant to carry the weight of global outcomes. You were never meant to govern the nations.

Let God hold what only He can hold.

Your calling is not to rule the world,
but to remain faithful in it.

Prayer

Father God, When the world feels loud and unsettled, it’s easy for fear to creep in.

Help us to remember that You are not overwhelmed by the noise of the nations.
You rule. You are still speaking. You are still the main actor.

Teach us to quiet our souls, to release what is not ours to carry, and to trust You again today.

You be God. We will trust You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.