Facing disaster is demoralizing. Last night a friend and former co-laborer in Christ shared with me the devastating news with me that he had a form of bone cancer. My heart sank. I saw the deep grief in his eyes and felt his emotional pain as we embraced to pray. Most people, at some point in their life, will face a disaster of their own. It may not be cancer, but it most certainly will be just as demoralizing. It could be anything from a broken relationship to a lost job to the death or ill health of a loved one to a rebellious family member. It could be a natural disaster like Katrina or a tornado. It could be a financial collapse or a foreclosure. No matter the personal disaster, our joy of life and hope are drained from us in those moments.
Let's be honest, those are bitter days that none of us want to face. Nobody looks forward to personal devastation. Yet, in those moments of utter darkness, when we wonder if God really cares, there comes a glimmer of light in the distance. God certainly is aware of our plight and deeply cares. It's in our deepest hour of grief we discover God is there. And it's in those moments the promise of Isaiah 4 becomes so rich.
Isaiah writes about the impending disaster that is coming upon Jerusalem and Judah for their sinful practices. He talks about the destruction and personal pain all will feel when God brings judgment upon them. The devastation will be all encompassing. No one will be spared because of their behavior. And just when all seems lost, God will throw them a life preserver, a branch of the Lord. Isaiah talks about the cleansing and restoration that will occur. He talks about how the presence of God will be seen and felt.
The prophecy appears to be a picture of Christ's redeeming, restoring sacrifice. It's a view into what God will do for us who are hopelessly lost and facing personal eternal disaster. In our moment of greatest distress, God extends to us a branch to pull us from our quicksand through Jesus and His Holy Spirit.
Some of the disasters we face in life, okay, many of the disasters we face in life are because of our own action, attitudes or behavior. We fail to heed God's instruction and warnings and thus end up in the pit of despair. We feel depressed and defeated with no way out. But still He doesn't abandon us. He's still there holding out a branch.
He is willing to rescue us from even the deepest, darkest hole. But we have to seize the branch. Just like Peter had to take the hand of Jesus when he was sinking in the sea of doubt during a life threating storm, we have to reach out to grab the hope of God.
I'm not sure we can really appreciate fully the hope and goodness of God and His presence until we've wallowed in the depths of despair and darkness. It's not until we are able to clear ourselves from the muck by taking the hand of Christ that we experience the true joy of life in Him. Only after a disaster, when God brings restoration to us, do we fully appreciate His grace and redemption and security and nature.
God, sometimes it seems that I go from one disaster to the next. The shoe keeps dropping and it lands on my head. I can't seem to escape. I know, Lord, that some of the devastation is brought on by my own actions, attitudes, and behavior. God give me the wisdom and ability to see the branch you're extending to me. I need you. Restore me. Refresh me. Surround me with your goodness and grace and presence. I long for the light. Help me watch out for the pits and traps that lead to darkness and disaster.
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