PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 53-54
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.” (Isaiah 54:7)
Both of these chapters describe abandonment and restoration.
In ch.53 it is the suffering servant, in ch.54 it is the nation of Israel.
In both cases the prophet is encouraging a suffering people to not give up.
We live in a hard heavy world because we abandoned God, not the other way around.
All suffering and hardship is somehow directly or indirectly related to this.
But the bible’s message is that God doesn’t abandon us, even if it seems that way.
God joins us in our misery, suffers with us, and lifts the curse with/for us.
In Jesus God does the heavy lifting… with us and for us.
When we are in it, it is hard to see our burden as ‘light’ or ‘brief’.
The weight of our struggles seems impossible, too much for us to bear.
It takes strength to lift up our eyes in hope, to see beyond the burden.
Jesus shows us that our suffering, though real is not forever.
He is with us, he has lifted the burden for us, and he will help us as well.
Look up beside you and see Jesus lifting with you… and feel him lifting you!
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for reminding me that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.” It may seem that God/Jesus abandons me – but really it is I who disappoint and ignore the watching care of my God. His abandonment is only for a moment to help me come to my senses – HS train me and help me to see that your deep compassion and care for me is real. AS the prophet paints the picture of the suffering and dying saviour – “the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin” – but He has conquered: “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e]; by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.” Jesus justifies me – bears my iniquities. That is our Creator God – coming to us in grace – restoring us through Jesus redemption of sin! Thank you Jesus! Don’t give up on me – help me to see that your abandoment is because you love me and you want to train me!
Thank you for your promises! Thank you for the reminder that your covenant stands regardless of the opposition we face or what we feel. That you have a plan for me no matter what!
The Lord was with His Son at all times during His Life on earth. Christ suffered so that I can have life and life eternal. He is the light of the world. And in that Light I too have Light. Daily I am walking in that Light – His SonShine. And one day I will be engulfed by that light living with Him eternally. But today that Light shows me how to live for Jesus.
The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain:
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!