How does life look for us when we counsel with the Lord? It may not change our trials, but it may change our decisions and how we deal with trials. It opens our vision to the fact that we aren’t in our lives alone, that there is someone who is invested - with His flesh and blood - in our lives. What, then, are we willing to invest for His kingdom?
Isaiah’s prophecies counsel against pride, likened unto Babylon. Babylon was known anciently as a city of education, for scribes, mathematics, law and astrology. Much to take pride in, as we do today in our education. Yet when our worldly education is void of knowledge of God and His ways, our viewpoint is incomplete - the view of ourselves as masters become distorted with a belief that our education defines our worth. We may view trials as failures, find no hope beyond earth. A constant striving to be better or smarter than another filling us with anxiety and sorrow. Our pride insists that we must keep control. Heaven invites us to relinquish the reigns into the Lord’s hands. Which is quite wise, because He has a much better view of the road, its hazards and our destination.
Dare to let the Lord take the wheel, take some rest. ‘There’s rest for the weary, rest that endures, earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t cure.’ [Isaiah 14:3]
Come As You Are - Crowder
Isaiah masterfully paints a picture of Messiah. Take time to consider what His mission of resurrection means for you. A restoring of life to what has died. Viewing it like this, I see resurrection happening every day. Certainly it is found in the cycles of the seasons. And it most certainly is found as we turn away from sin, and become a new person accepting Christ’s grace and love.
‘I was a dead man in the tomb, oh I was sure I’d lost the fight; Death answers to you, You said ‘Child open your eyes,’ and I came alive!’
Resurrection Story - Phil Wickham
Isaiah warns of spiritual danger. Likened to an empty earth, hunger, broken vessel or wall, numbed by drunkenness. How sad to see so many today embrace patterns or addictions that can give nothing more that these things.
‘And when I finally noticed there was silence inside me, like an abandoned house after the lights went out ... I lost who I was meant to be, because a soul can never find its rest when it turns away from eternity.’
Far From God, Far From Myself, I’m Finding My Way Back – Zé Romero
Trials are essential. Broken is not final. They are part of creation. What is being created in you?
‘When you see broken beyond repair, I see healing beyond belief ... you’re not finished yet, where you see your worst mistake, I see the price I paid.’
Matthew West - Mended
Why hesitate to accept rest and peace and healing? Jesus offers them in abundance, has paid the heavy price for us. Turn to Him.