Getting Job-ed
Jacob, why do you say, and Israel, why do you assert: “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God?” Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:27-31 CSB
How’s your endurance feeling today? Have you been feeling weary? Looking back at the last 16 months, I can just say it’s been very easy to feel very weary. The negativity of the world is unreal depressing. We are constantly bombarded by it also from the news, social media, colleagues, etc. Does God feel silent for you in this time? I know that is another thing that will exhaust me: feeling like I’m on my own to figure this all out…
Ground yourself in the Sovereign God
Are you waiting on God in some way? Possibly in rescue or direction? We have to learn to ground ourselves in the Sovereign God. There is no other truth outside of Him. There is no other power outside of Him. I love the verses above. Most of the time you only hear Isaiah 40:31 quoted, but look at what grounds Isaiah is grounding himself in 40:28: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.”
Are you weary from the waiting? Trust in the Sovereign God. Do you feel like God is silent? He is not silent. From the time of Joseph in Genesis to Moses in Exodus, the Hebrews were in 400 years of slavery. Was God silent? No. He was weaving His tapestry to bring about Moses, and eventually Jesus. What about the break-in between the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus to Him actually stepping on this earth? That was 500 years of seeming silence from God. God was not being silent, He was carving the path for Jesus.
Strength to the Faint and Strengthens the Powerless
Paul states this very well: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 CSB).” In God’s relative silence, He is not being silent. He is moving in ways we can’t see. Sometimes we tend to stand so close to the picture that we can’t see the mosaic God is painting. We want resolution of our current situations, will this come? Maybe, but not guaranteed. We are called to trust God, and He will give us the strength to fly and run. God has done this for the Martyrs throughout church history (visit Voice of the Martyrs to read some of the incredible stories of God’s strength shown in weakness). Our Sovereign God is faithful to give strength to continue on mission for Him even during times of “silence.”
-Austin
