After a day's work and stresses, it feels good to unwind before bed ~ with a cup of coffee, cantatas playing quietly in the background and the Word. I've been so distressed throughout the day that my thumbs are painfully raw. Skinned them unconsciously ~ an awful habit when I am jittery.
Read Isaiah 43 ~ and marveled at how tender God was to the Jews who kept burdening Him with their sins. There they were - fearful and defenseless - deserving to be abandoned and destroyed for violating God's Commandments - and yet, Isaiah conveys to us the grace and mercy that God showed them. Such a warm, compassionate and reassuring tone of speech - even while the Jews were in bondage and captivity - consequences of their sins, no doubt. To such, God had still wanted to grant the hope, which only He could give. The hope of life and a future, even after they had completely messed up. "Do not fear, for I am with you..." ~ He affirmed more than once. "I am the LORD, your God... the Holy One of Israel... your Savior..." (43:3) "...You are Mine..." (43:1)
How beautiful those promises! How awesome. God is indeed a God who never leaves nor forsakes. Even when we are terrible trouble-makers. Even when we mess-up.
These are the verses that were truly outstanding to me today, as they have once been in year of 2005/2006 ~ "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (43:18-19)
Messing-up doesn't mean that a person is permanently messed-up. God can still restore, redeem and renew ~ when he/she repents and chooses God.
O God, make a way in my wilderness and streams in my wastelands.
Be Thou my vision.
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