I wrote this piece a while back, months ago in fact, and kept telling myself I need to post it. So today is the day. Before I share my thoughts on Isaiah 54, I have to share something wonderful that happened as I was writing this piece.
The day I was writing this, I was praying in my office at work, door was closed and I needed time alone. I turned on an audio commentary from blueletterbible.org with David Guzik teaching on this chapter. It was on in the background at first; I can’t write with music or people talking. So I had started writing and praying, continually going back and forth to study. I finally had to put the speaker completely on mute.
I began to pray and tears were streaming down my face; fear can overwhelm me sometimes. {Just being completely vulnerable here} There are days when I feel very alone. Despite the fact that I know I am loved, I forget God's promises and Satan attacks my heart and my mind. It was one of those days.
Honestly, I enjoy being single. It allows me to do things I may not be able to do as a married woman. If I want to go out with friends on a Friday or take a random road trip, peace out! :) I'm there! It's nice. And I have amazing friends and family, I love them all. However, my heart still looks forward to one day being married with a husband/helpmate/lover and companion. It is a desire. And when you are single and work in ministry, let’s just say guys are not exactly beating down my door - which btw I don’t understand because we are so much fun! And I think I’m pretty cute. {hey, I am allowed to say that and say it with confidence.} ;)
Anyways, as a single woman, watching so many of my friends get married and have children, it hits me with destructive thoughts, “Will my life ever move forward?” or “I need to get over this and understand that God just doesn’t have those plans for me, so I need to face facts.”
What happened?
So, when I was in my office praying, I prayed the Holy Spirit would comfort me, I think I actually uttered the words, ‘please help me. I just need to feel You.' And I literally felt like He wrapped me in His arms and held me, it suddenly became very warm in my office. Of course, I was crying, then I heard Him whisper “I Am enough.” :)
God was just reminding me of who He is and He is enough. Everything I need. It was encouraging to hear that, but that’s not all. Then something odd and amazing happened… I dried my eyes and turned the commentary back on. It had been playing but I had muted it. When I turned it back up, the speaker was referencing verse 5.
Ahhhhhhhh! I was shocked! I couldn’t believe that just happened! J God's perfect timing. It was so wonderful to hear that confirmation. I just had to share. Sorry this piece is long, but I do hope it is a blessing to someone out there reading this. This was heavy on my heart for a while and felt like I should share. Please post or share any thoughts, I love hearing from people! :)
ISAIAH 54~The day I was writing this, I was praying in my office at work, door was closed and I needed time alone. I turned on an audio commentary from blueletterbible.org with David Guzik teaching on this chapter. It was on in the background at first; I can’t write with music or people talking. So I had started writing and praying, continually going back and forth to study. I finally had to put the speaker completely on mute.
I began to pray and tears were streaming down my face; fear can overwhelm me sometimes. {Just being completely vulnerable here} There are days when I feel very alone. Despite the fact that I know I am loved, I forget God's promises and Satan attacks my heart and my mind. It was one of those days.
Honestly, I enjoy being single. It allows me to do things I may not be able to do as a married woman. If I want to go out with friends on a Friday or take a random road trip, peace out! :) I'm there! It's nice. And I have amazing friends and family, I love them all. However, my heart still looks forward to one day being married with a husband/helpmate/lover and companion. It is a desire. And when you are single and work in ministry, let’s just say guys are not exactly beating down my door - which btw I don’t understand because we are so much fun! And I think I’m pretty cute. {hey, I am allowed to say that and say it with confidence.} ;)
Anyways, as a single woman, watching so many of my friends get married and have children, it hits me with destructive thoughts, “Will my life ever move forward?” or “I need to get over this and understand that God just doesn’t have those plans for me, so I need to face facts.”
What happened?
So, when I was in my office praying, I prayed the Holy Spirit would comfort me, I think I actually uttered the words, ‘please help me. I just need to feel You.' And I literally felt like He wrapped me in His arms and held me, it suddenly became very warm in my office. Of course, I was crying, then I heard Him whisper “I Am enough.” :)
God was just reminding me of who He is and He is enough. Everything I need. It was encouraging to hear that, but that’s not all. Then something odd and amazing happened… I dried my eyes and turned the commentary back on. It had been playing but I had muted it. When I turned it back up, the speaker was referencing verse 5.
“For your Maker is
your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”
He read the verse, then he
said, “It’s as if the Lord is saying to
you ‘I Am enough.”
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”
Ahhhhhhhh! I was shocked! I couldn’t believe that just happened! J God's perfect timing. It was so wonderful to hear that confirmation. I just had to share. Sorry this piece is long, but I do hope it is a blessing to someone out there reading this. This was heavy on my heart for a while and felt like I should share. Please post or share any thoughts, I love hearing from people! :)
“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not
been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of
your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your
stakes.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities”
{vs1 – 3}.
Isaiah 54 has been heavy on my heart. I keep reading, trying to understand why God is pressing this on me. The first couple verses tell a once barren woman to now sing because she is no longer barren. Why is this even mentioned?
As I have been studying, I read that back then in Israel, it was a great disgrace for a woman to be unable to bear children. So in her moments of feeling shameful, feeling alone and discouraged because of her struggle, the Lord is comforting her with a promise. It’s a promise of restoration and blessing! All that was the past, all the shame and loneliness she has felt, God is erasing and doing a new work. He promises to restore and bless. Israel will be restored like a woman who was once barren. She is also compared to a widow without reproach. As there is sadness that attacks a widow, God promises to stand in the place of her husband.
“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your
widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,” says your God.
5 For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,” says your God.
With compassion, God responds ‘don’t you realize who I am. I Am.
I am your Maker, I designed you and have loved you with an everlasting love. Before I even formed you in the womb, I knew
you.'
“the
Lord of hosts is my name” …means the God of Heavenly armies. Wow. How’s
that for a husband? Nothing and no one
on earth can compare! He is
saying, ‘I am God Almighty – powerful, Sovereign, and
still closer and more intimate than any earthly husband can be for you.’
“For a brief
moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.”
but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.”
God describes our trial from His
perspective. God is calling us
to trust Him, to remember who He is and that He will bring us
restoration.
He is teaching us that even though something
as steady as the mountains may move, but His kindness will never depart from
us! His compassion is always there
and He is reaching out to comfort those that are hurting. A couple weeks ago, I was praying and it had
been an emotionally draining weekend. I
was praying and felt as if the Holy Spirit was saying to me, “why do you cry as though I left you?
I have never left you.” I felt like He had such compassion on me in that moment of weakness. He didn't look down, slap me around and tell me to get over it, but God had compassion on me.
Far too often I question His goodness. I doubt Him and I don’t
trust. I struggle with thinking that He
may allow something to come into my life that hurts, I’m afraid of the risk. Far too often I view God like I do a person... as someone
full of sin and flaws. I forget that He is
GOD. Not a god that we have created with
our hands, not a god that we made-up, but GOD.. our Creator. He is everything. He is the beginning and the end; nothing compares to Him. He is the one true LIVING God.
For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires....
When we are
feel as if we have hit our lowest point, we ‘feel’ poor, weak and as
though we have nothing. God is comforting his child with these words,
reminding them they are not without, they are not poor but they are “rich.”
I love Isaiah 54 and I take it as a word of encouragement directly from God, as this is the Word of the Living God, which is something I easily forget far too often. I serve the living God, He is not dead but He answers when we call and He is our strength and encouragement when we need it. {~ A Thankful heart}
