In Whom Do We Receive Comfort?

In my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) class, we are studying the book of Isaiah, which is not a very easy book of the Bible. I am amazed by this book, simply because I must have skimmed through it earlier and not fully grasp everything that was being said to the people of Israel or to me.

It is a book that all believers should study at some point in their lifetime. It is a love story between God and his people. God is a god who loves His people and will not leave them alone or to their own devices. He promises never to leave or forsake His own even when we don't believe that He is true to His promises.

A couple of scriptures I would like to share with you. A friend shared today one from the book of Psalms, chapter 130, verse 5, which reads, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word, I put my hope." Another friend shared Isaiah 40:31 what says, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

There is a whole lot of waiting in these two scriptures and I must confess that waiting requires patience. My patience comes and goes; not sure about yours. I know that as a Christian I am suppose to possess the fruits of the Holy Spirit and patience is one of those fruits. I am not good at waiting. I have a hard time sitting still. I want to move around and do things, find things to do. But these scriptures say to "wait," and waiting requires patience.

There are three stages of Christian growth: (1) the young Christian shall mount up as an eagle; (2) the adult Christian shall run; and (3) the mature Christian shall walk. Regardless of who you are, if you are going to move with God through this earth, it will cost you something. One thing for certain, God will furnish you strength in whatever your condition might be. If you need strength to walk, He will give it to you. If you need strength to fly, He has that for you also. If you need strength to run, God will give you that too. God is our Comforter and the scripture in Isaiah reveals God as our Creator, as our Savior, and as our Sustainer.

God is our everything. He is our all and all. Whatever you need, He can provide it. There is a catch. We must have faith. We must trust Him. Mostly, we must be obedient to His word.

God is not going to leave any of His creation alone, to go it on their own. We must rely on Him. We cannot align ourselves with any one else but Him. Don't go to your friends or even your family to give you some relief in this walk called Life. God is our only ally. As I often tell my children, don't come to me, don't go to the phone, but go to the throne of God, and offer up a prayer. God does hear you and He will provide an answer, in His time. Don't expect immediate results. God's timing is not out timing. But wait...but wait on the Lord, and put your hope and trust in Him.

A person of faith takes God at His Word and realizes that God is committed to His Word. A person of faith knows that God honors His Word above His name and has settled in his heart that God intends to bring His Word to fulfillment. A person of faith remains confident in God's promises and takes His warnings seriously.

God wants to receive the glory and He can only be gloried if we believe in what His Word says. When we wait on God to do what He says, we demonstrate that we have some patience.

Thought for Today: Remember that God intends good for His people to give them hope. Wait, I say, wait on the Lord.