PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 35-36
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’” (Isaiah 36:18)
As we go from birth through life to death, I encourage people with hope.
My message is, ‘the Lord will deliver us…’, just like Hezekiah.
My faith and hope is that there is a way through this wilderness (35:8)
My goal is to strengthen feeble hands, steady the knees that give way.
To say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.” (35:4)
I trust that the Spirit of Jesus is backing me up, helping them to be hopeful.
But I also sense that someone else is at work, discouraging us.
‘Where is your God, how is Jesus helping you, why is he letting you suffer?’
Which voice do you hear, and which voice is easier for you to believe?
As we go through COVID, plus whatever other life challenges we have, we hear voices.
Sometimes from others, but usually inside our hearts and heads.
‘Is my faith and hope and love in vain, am I being misled for believing in Jesus?’
For me it takes real determination to hang on to the hope, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’
It is hard to be an encourager when you’re hearing the negative voices yourself.
PRAYER
Lord, this negative voice is sometimes loud, sometimes soft. Help me not to answer it, but to keep repeating your truth: ‘The Lord will deliver us.’
It is one thing to trust in God when all is well and prosperous – another when there is injustice and hunger and oppression. That was Satan’s point about Job’s devotion to God – yet, I find that the rich successful life with lots of prosperity can be equated with less ‘God’ care and devotion. That is why the saying of Agur (Prov. 30:8) comes to mind: “…give me neither poverty or riches, but give me only my daily bread.” Better to be dependent on the Lord than independent. When things were going well for God’s people they forgot the God that blessed them. I think we do the same! Lord, keep me close to you and help see that all that you entrust to me is yours – for me to steward as you will. Remind me like you did Hezekiah to keep faith in you no matter what!