Believing God Despite Difficulties

Isaiah and Jeremiah believed in God despite their experiences of difficulties.

God told Isaiah to write on a tablet...
Make a record…
The people were rebellious…
Refusing to hear the Lord’s law.
Saying to God’s seers, “Don’t see!”
Saying to God’s prophets, “Don’t prophesy!
Don’t declare right things!
Speak to us smooth things!
Prophesy deceit.
Leave God’s way.
Turn from His path,
Cause the Holy One…
To cease from before us.”

Isaiah warned them…

You despise God’s Word…
You trust in oppression and perversity,
Your high wall is about to fall…
It will fall suddenly…
God shall break your wall…
As a potter breaks a pot…
There shall not be a fragment left…
Large enough to carry fire or water.

Then, the Lord advised them…
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence…
Shall be your strength.”

Then, the Lord promised them…

“The Lord will wait…
That He may be gracious to you;
He will be exalted in having mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” [1]

The Lord told Jeremiah…
To break a flask before the leaders and say…
Even so the Lord will break this people and this city,
As one breaks a potter’s vessel,
Because of its idolatry. [2]

Later, Jeremiah wrote Lamentations…
He was greatly aggrieved.
Rather than softening to God’s Word…
His city hardened itself.
They were shattered by an invading force.

In the year 2020 the Lord is saying…

“The just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.” [3]

Our resolution is…

“We are not of those who draw back to perdition,
But of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” [4]

“Dear Heavenly Father,
Please keep our hearts tender to You.
Help us to live by faith…
As Your Son said to Satan…
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word that…
Proceeds from the mouth of God.’
Please grant us grace…
Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit…
So that we live by faith…
And never turn back.
In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!”

[1] Isaiah 30:8-15, 18
[2] Jeremiah 19:10-13
[3] Hebrews 10:38
[4] Hebrews 10:39