He's Not Done. His Promises Are True.
Isaiah ministered during a time when Israel was in steady decline. The nation had wandered because of poor choices, corrupt leadership, and pride. Yet in the middle of their failure, the Lord reminded them of who He is: ""But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" Isaiah 41:8-10, 13
Israel had fallen prey to their own desires, failed leadership, and pride. Their circumstances were, in many ways, the result of their own rebellion. Yet God met them with a reminder not first of their failures, but of His faithfulness. He called them back to remember who He is and what He had promised.
Life has seasons. There are highs and lows. Sometimes our hardships come through no fault of our own, and sometimes they are the painful consequences of our own decisions. But if you belong to Christ, your failures have not caused God to abandon His work in you. The promises He made to you in Christ are just as true today as they were the day He saved you.
So today, don't dwell on your weakness. Fix your eyes on the strength of the Lord. Don't rehearse your failures. Remember His faithfulness. Preach the truth of God's character to your own heart until fear gives way to faith.
It is by beholding Him that we are changed. The more we know Him, trust Him, and rest in His promises, the more our minds are renewed and our lives are transformed.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.