Learn To Trust In God When You Ache For His Comfort (Isaiah 36-43)
Grasping for breath when life sends tidal waves over you again and again is EXHAUSTING! Even correcting an incorrect thought can be too overwhelming. That’s why we need to learn to trust in God during seasons of reprieve.
If and when shattered dreams, health woes, or incredible hardships drop you to your knees, you will have a framed mindset to grasp His hand of comfort and climb out of the muck.
It’s never too late to start!
Download your first two weeks free by signing up below (or buy Book One of the Family Bible Plan)!
Grasping for breath when life sends tidal waves over you again and again is EXHAUSTING! Even correcting an incorrect thought can be too overwhelming. That’s why we need to learn to trust in God during seasons of reprieve.
If and when shattered dreams, health woes, or incredible hardships drop you to your knees, you will have a framed mindset to grasp His hand of comfort and climb out of the muck.
It’s never too late to start!
Download your first two weeks free by signing up below (or buy Book One of the Family Bible Plan)!
Where were they at...
Threats were mounting from all sides, the nations around them eager to overtake the Israel. A once complete nation, Israel was made up of 12 tribes serving the Lord as their king.
Now, years after demanding they have earthly kings to follow, they split. Their divided nation was now made up of the Northern part (fully undedicated to the Lord with a succession of evil kings), and the Southern part (following closely behind swaying back and forth between Godly and evil kings).
Hezekiah was king of Judah (Southern); he tore down asherah poles, idols, and altars while striving to lead the people righteously. He had trust in God, but needed some reminders. In chapter 36, Judah is threatened with war by King Sennacherib of Assyria; in the following chapter, Isaiah replies with a note from the Lord.
Isaiah reminds them of the sovereignty of God. While their very lives are threatened, God tells them a rumor is what will save them. Not only that, but that God is in control over the spirit that is sent to King Sennacherib that causes him to believe, act on it, and withdraw from Judah.
Who are we...
Consider what it must have been like for Hezekiah. He was in mourning, not knowing what to do.
God not only reminds them to rest in Him, but to ask for His help. He shows them He can and will save them. He shows them their need to trust in God.
Trust in God is learned...
Our trust in God is not attained by a declarative statement or a snapping of the fingers. It is a learned process, often filled with valleys, ruts, and cliffs.
The book of Isaiah mentions a couple times the straight path ahead for righteous.
Seems like an oxymoron...
Doesn’t seem to make sense, right? Hardships on a straight path?
Think about it this way, the narrow path is narrow and few take it. The other path holds a wide berth that many eagerly skip down toward a fate they dare not dream about. Every once in awhile there’s a sidepath that one or two will follow to get on the other path. This can be either incredibly joyous news or news that comes at you like a gut-punch.
But the narrow path does not look inviting to those with worldly wisdom. There are cliffs surrounding the path, all around it are snares, thorns, deep fog, and ravenous lions. Yet we find the path itself is level. We may fall off the cliff and tumble down, but when we trust in Jesus and take His hand we find ourselves right back on that path with clear direction.
No matter what the world may throw at us, our level path is advancing us toward Heaven.
Comfort comes through trust in God...
Chapter 40 offers a calming reassurance that God is in control. In the midst of our wars and devastations, God knows all. To a nation that failed repeatedly to trust in God, look at the overwhelming compassion He shows to them.
The Israelites had to face the consequences of their actions, but God was right there ready to show them ultimate mercy.
The Israelites are then promised that they will be delivered and God’s glory will be revealed.
Look back...
How were they to know? They were taught to trust in God by looking back. In Deuteronomy, Moses iterated and reiterated countless times for the Israelites to look back at God’s faithfulness and then recognize it in the present.
See how He cared and share that with their kids. Do not let the lessons you learn die with you, rather, pass them on to be generational blessings. To trust in God is a faith-building ladder that a whole family can climb together.
It’s a choice …how you muck through those times (or how you learn from them after). … Look at the ways, even while you’re in distress, to SEE how God is caring for you in the little ways and the big ways. At the very least, end your day identifying one way you recognized God cared for you that day; encourage your kids to start sharing… train them to constantly see God’s faithfulness!
Remember, remember, remember. Force yourself to find these reminders, choose to seek them out, it is training your mind to keep God present!
Remember His glory...
God is the God of creation…. We, are like grass who wither and die away.
To remember and share this is to give glory to God for who He is and that He would even care for little ‘ol us down here on earth. But He does!
The meat of chapter 40 dives into the overarching greatness of God and it’s no coincidence that this is in the same chapter as when the Israelites are comforted. When we are aching for comfort, we can remember our trust in God is rooted in His magnificence. He is holy, He is sovereign, and we are not.
Yet, His care extends to us!
Do you live for HIS glory?
A motto that should fast to every area in our lives… why not grab a daily reminder to boast for Whom we live to please?
Soli deo Gloria!
The results when you trust in God...
So what does the Creator of the world offer us as we traverse a lonely and difficult path?
The One who is everlasting, never tired, never weary, knowledgeable beyond belief, offers us the same.
Our trust in God as His children results in a comfort the world can never know… and that is more comforting to rest in than anything imaginable!
He cares for you!
Last Week
Anchored Truth Tuesdays
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More and more I am realizing that trust is a willed response.
I am still learning to trust Him with all my stuff. Probably will be for the rest of my life.
I have some Christian writers who share on my link parties, Happiness is Homemade (Sun-Thur) & Crafty Creators which is brand new & open Thur-Mon. I’d love to have share your party there & have some of them come share here! I love coming to read what everyone has shared!
XOXO,
Niki ~ Life as a LEO Wife