Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 124; Isaiah 41:17-29; Matthew 10:34-42; Romans 8:1-8; Psalm 115
As we begin this new year, I am reminded about a trap that some of us (myself included) fall into. Whenever we find ourselves in a difficult circumstance, we often convince ourselves that the solution lies in changing our setting. If we have difficult in a job, what do we do? Seek a new job. If we find ourselves in a rut in a city, what do we contemplate? Moving to a new city. If we experiences struggles in a relationship, what do we do? Seek a new partner. If we’re not carefully, after a while we can find ourselves assuming that the answer lies in simply changing the externals around us. Today’s passage from Isaiah, however, reminds us God doesn’t always work that way. When the poor and needy find themselves in search for water, did God transport them to the ocean where they could find an abundance of water? No, God found a way of making “rivers flow on barren heights” (Isaiah 41:17-18 – NIV). And when their tongues were parched with thirst, did God wisk them away to a lush tropical forest setting? No, God transformed “the desert into pools of water” (Isaiah 41:18 – NIV). In other words, the passage from Isaiah reminds us that God has the ability to appear in the most arid circumstances of our lives and bring us hope and relief. Today, if you happen to find yourself in a difficult spot, remember the wisdom contained in this morning’s passage from Isaiah and start looking for the manifestations of God’s grace through the flowing rivers and pools of water. May you drink from these waters until you get your fill! Til next time…
As we begin this new year, I am reminded about a trap that some of us (myself included) fall into. Whenever we find ourselves in a difficult circumstance, we often convince ourselves that the solution lies in changing our setting. If we have difficult in a job, what do we do? Seek a new job. If we find ourselves in a rut in a city, what do we contemplate? Moving to a new city. If we experiences struggles in a relationship, what do we do? Seek a new partner. If we’re not carefully, after a while we can find ourselves assuming that the answer lies in simply changing the externals around us. Today’s passage from Isaiah, however, reminds us God doesn’t always work that way. When the poor and needy find themselves in search for water, did God transport them to the ocean where they could find an abundance of water? No, God found a way of making “rivers flow on barren heights” (Isaiah 41:17-18 – NIV). And when their tongues were parched with thirst, did God wisk them away to a lush tropical forest setting? No, God transformed “the desert into pools of water” (Isaiah 41:18 – NIV). In other words, the passage from Isaiah reminds us that God has the ability to appear in the most arid circumstances of our lives and bring us hope and relief. Today, if you happen to find yourself in a difficult spot, remember the wisdom contained in this morning’s passage from Isaiah and start looking for the manifestations of God’s grace through the flowing rivers and pools of water. May you drink from these waters until you get your fill! Til next time…
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