Be careful before we complain

It seems that God's people love to complain. In Isaiah's time, they also complained ... a LOT! And when God heard their complaints, he passed on this message through the prophet:

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. (Isaiah 40)

These were the 2 thoughts that struck me in Eugene Peterson's paraphrase.

God has not lost track of you!

God Lasts!

Thought: Before we complain to God, perhaps we should stop and take stock of what God has done for us.

Living in Grace

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What a remarkable promise!

In one of my favourite passages from the book of Isaiah, we come across a remarkable promise. Isaiah tells God's people that they will be renewed by the Spirit of the Lord. This promise is not just for that generation of believers, but for all of us.

28 "Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:29-31

Thought: The proviso is that we choose to trust in the Lord, and then we will find new strength. This is the moment where we choose to surrender to the power of God, and resist relying on our own efforts.

Living in Grace

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Like water evaporating in the Summer heat

" My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat." - Psalm 32:4

This image that David paints for us is one that I can clearly picture. South African summers can be extremely hot, and water easily evaporates in the intense heat. The warm days also drain our energy and make us feel lethargic. 

The reason for David's strength 'evaporating' had a lot to do with his own decisions and unwillingness to turn back to God. However, when he eventually confessed his sins and experienced the mercy of God, it was like his strength was renewed and restored.

Isaiah 40:29 - He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Living in Grace

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Those who are weary

"He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." - Isaiah 40:28-31

I think that we all know what it feels like to be tired and weak. When we get to this point in our lives it is usually as a result of having expended too much emotional or physical energy. 

In today's well-known passage (from Isaiah 40:30) we note that Isaiah also uses the word 'weary.' At first glance we can be excused for thinking it is the same meaning as weakness or tiredness. However, it is a different word, with a different meaning. According to the commentator, Motyer, it means “exhaustion because of the hardness of life.” 

Can we relate to that in any way? Have you ever felt exhausted because of the hardness of life? What hope does God give to us?

Action: Read Matthew 11:28-30

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It is easy to complain

It is very easy to make complaints against other people, as well as against the Lord. The commentator (Wolf) remarks:  “How easy it is to believe in the infinite power of God and at the same time to feel that He is unable to meet our personal needs!” And I am sure there are a fair number of us who can relate to these words. 

In trying to remind the Israelites that Yahweh was still sovereign, Isaiah challenged them: "Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? (Isaiah 40:27)

He was imploring them to remember that God does still care for us. Although it may be easy to complain, let us hold onto all the promises that come to us from the Lord. Here is a powerful reminder of this truth. 

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

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Sometimes we just need to look up

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." - (Isaiah 40: 25-26)

It is very easy to become bogged down in the trials of this life and to become so focused on all that is going wrong, that we forget how Big God truly is. This is why I love to look up into the night sky and to be reminded how small I am, and how Mighty God really is.

“If you were to hold out a coin at arm's length, the coin would block out 15 million stars from your view, if your eyes could see with that power.” - Source Unknown.

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Do you not know? Have you not heard?

"Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall.
but those who hope in the Lord,
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:28-31

Before the year runs away from us and we forget how peaceful the Christmas season was, let us remember the One who never grows tired or weary. I am sure that we will all face moments of exhaustion in 2023 but let me urge us all to HOPE in the Lord - this is when our strength will be renewed.

Thought: You don't have to carry every burden on your own. God grants us the strength and capacity to live each day. 

“Seeing that a Pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.” ~ John Calvin

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Have you never heard about this?

"Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:28-31

Isaiah's words came to me this week, at just the right time. I was grateful that they lifted my spirits and encouraged me. I pray that they may also offer you an oasis in the midst of your dryness.

God has not forgotten you. 

Living in Grace

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We need some Good News

"Messenger of good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops" - Isaiah 40:9

The past few weeks have been really tough from a ministry point of view - we have had to grieve with a number of families who have lost loved ones, as well as grieve with people who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses. It has left me asking: "Where is the Good News?"

So, when I was prompted to turn to Isaiah 40 I was immediately struck by verse 9 - Messenger of Good News! Isaiah then carries on to speak of God's greatness and how he does hear us when we call out to him. These words were like a healing balm to my soul. Of course we also remember that Jesus is the greatest messenger of Good News for us. 

I pray that if you are feeling a little burdened and tired at the moment, that these words would be helpful:

"O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding."

Living in Grace

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Waiting on God...

It is impossible to reach a milestone in your life - for example like our church Centenary - without thinking of the 'what next' question? We take very little time to savour the joy of a moment before we start thinking of what lies down the road. While this is a good practise in some respects, it does make us a slave to our own agenda and sense of timing. Waiting on God is a hard discipline to get right.

“Wait on the Lord" is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not his way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.” - J.I.Packer

Isaiah 40:31 - "...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Living in Grace

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Get Energized

"God energizes those who get tired,
    gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,    they walk and don’t lag behind." - Isaiah 40:29-31 (Message)

God will give you the strength you need for today. Plug into the Power of the Spirit. 

"He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint." - New International Version

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Just Hope

"Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:28-31

We have one task to live out today. All that is required of us is to HOPE in the Lord. Once we start with that, then the rest will follow.

Have a blessed Day.
Living in Grace
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Choose a Word

If you have a careful look at the attached photo you will see that it contains a number of different words that have been scrambled into the picture. As you cast your eyes over the picture you will find that you are drawn to certain words - for example, can you see the following words: Help, Flawless, Independent, Calm, Friendly, versatile? They are all hidden in the block, but our eyes are often drawn to the word we need for the moment.

The same can be applied to our reading of Scripture. If we read a passage in a disciplined way, we will notice that the Spirit highlights certain words for us and these words become part of our lives in that moment. Why don't you give it a try and see what I mean? Read through these few verses and ask God to highlight some words for you:

"Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:28-31

If you have a moment, please send me a quick message with the ONE word that stood out for you today.

My word for today is: 'strength'

Living in Grace
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