Sent

There are moments in Scripture that catch us completely off guard, moments where the weight of God’s presence is undeniable. Isaiah 6 is one of those instances. Isaiah, a prophet living in a time of uncertainty and unrest, steps into the temple and sees the Lord, high and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple (Isaiah 6:1). Seraphim hover calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is filled with his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). The temple shakes with the sound of heaven, and the very foundations of Isaiah’s world seem to tremble.

Isaiah’s first response is not to act, not to speak, not to prophesy. His first response is to sit. He sees the Lord, and he sees himself. He cries out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). In the presence of God, he is undone. Yet this sitting, this pause, this recognition is essential. Before we are ever sent, we must sit. We must come to the feet of Jesus and let His holiness illuminate our hearts, revealing the sin, the clutter and the places where we have grown comfortable with mediocrity.

This rhythm of sitting and being formed is not just for prophets or for those in formal ministry. It is for all of us, whether we are caring for children, navigating work deadlines or simply trying to be present in the routines of daily life. Sitting with God shapes how we speak, how we serve, how we love and how we create.

But Isaiah’s story does not end in the temple. God’s response to his repentance is also a call to action. One of the seraphim flies to him with a live coal from the altar, touching his lips and saying, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah is forgiven, cleansed and then the voice of the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah answers without hesitation, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:7-8).

This is the rhythm God invites us into. We sit to see, to be changed and to be sent. When we linger in His presence, we are not doing nothing. We are being formed. Our hearts are being tuned, our imaginations are expanded, and our courage is cultivated. Then we are ready to act.

Sometimes we sit before God simply to be with Him, to know Him more deeply, to notice His presence or to breathe in His peace. Other times we sit with Him about a relationship, a work project, a conversation we are dreading or a next step we are considering. Whatever the form, sitting with Jesus shapes our hearts and prepares us to offer our best. It renews us, steadies us, and equips us to be sent into the world ready to love and act with intention. Our faith and our deeds are not separate; they are inseparable threads of the same tapestry, as James reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

When we take time to sit, we are renewed. When we rise, we are sent. We carry God’s presence into the world. Every kind word, every small act of care, every intentional moment can become an offering of worship. Just as Isaiah was cleansed and then sent, we too are called to step into the work He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10), empowered by His Spirit (Acts 1:8) and guided by His love.

We must MAKE ROOM to sit, to be changed and to be sent remembering that every moment surrendered to Him is worship of the One who is the treasure. The One who is the prize.

Reflection
Where in your life do you need to sit before the Lord in order to see Him, be renewed and realign your heart? Have you been lingering in His presence but hesitating to step into the work He has prepared for you? Or have you been running, serving and giving, yet not pausing to let Him shape your intentions?

Take a moment to consider both: where do you need to be still, and where He is calling you to go?