Written July 27, 2020
View original blog at https://jelysu19.wixsite.com/theoverflow/post/god-with-us-isaiah-7
Life is not easy. It was never meant to be easy.
Life is a journey, where we fall and get back up again. We learn from our mistakes and become wiser every day we allow God to teach us.
Sometimes life feels like a dream, and sometimes it feels like a battle.
God is gracious enough to tell us that life will not be free from struggles, and I for one am grateful for that. That means I can prepare myself for the struggles, and rejoice all the more in the victories.
In Isaiah 7, Judah is preparing for a battle against two nations, and they are terrified. However, God speaks to them and tells them not to worry. He says that these two nations will not be a threat for much longer, and they must endure through the present time by remaining secure in their faith in God.
Then He asks the king of Judah to ask Him for a sign, but the king is afraid because He doesn’t feel it is appropriate to test God. Then Isaiah steps and says it’s okay to ask God for a sign. He loves us and will give us the things we ask for.
So when Isaiah asks for the sign, he tells one of the many prophecies that foretell the birth of Jesus. He says that once that child is born, the nations that they are so afraid of right now will no longer exist. Then after that, he prophecies of future hardships that they will witness from other nations.
In most of Isaiah, the prophecies seem to flip flop frequently between death and destruction to hope and encouragement. This is because this is the nature of life. We would be deceiving ourselves if we said life is all good all of the time.
So if life is a constant swing between good times and hard times, where do we find peace and balance?
Well, as Isaiah says, our faith is what keeps us secure, and if it does not remain firm, we will be tossed helplessly with the waves of life. God is the only constant in a world of variables, so we must trust in Him in every season, and know that He is speaking to us and giving us signs to prepare us for what’s ahead. He ultimately has our best interest in mind, and we must trust that He is good regardless of our past, present, or future circumstances.
Once we can come to terms with that, and fully trust Him in all things, that is when we will experience true peace.
Lord, help me to trust You in the battle, and trust the signs You’re giving and the words You’re speaking. Help me to remember that You are Immanuel, God with Us.
Amen.
