Dear Friends:

This is the time of year when we begin to ask if winter will ever end. It has been a long, cold, and snowy winter for us here in Michigan and for many across our country as well. We are beginning to dread the weather forecasts each day and to look forward to spring which we know will come—eventually!

Life is like that, isn’t it? We may have a mountain peak experience when we are happy and all is well. Then there are the valleys which are often deeper and wider than we want them to be before we can begin the ascent to the mountain on the other side. Do you know that the Bible paints an exact picture of that experience in Isaiah 40?

To give you some of the background: The Jews were God’s chosen people and their nation was Israel. They were the blessed of the blessed as long as they followed closely after God. But Isaiah is writing at a time when the people of Israel had taken a long walk in the other direction, following their own ways instead of the ways God had required of them. They are on the deep slope down into the valley and Isaiah warns them that this is going to be a long difficult journey before things begin to look better again. Sounds like economists today, doesn’t it?

By the time we come to Isaiah 40, the people have heard a lot of warnings and a lot of dire prophecies about the judgment that God was going to bring on them for their disobedience. But in chapter 40, there are some encouraging words as the prophet looks forward to a time when the Messiah would come and God’s people would once again be on the mountaintop of God’s grace. And, we are told that it’s all about perspective.

First, verse 9 tells of the prophet being called out of the valley to go to a high mountain. Why? Probably because he can see better from up there. Sometimes we are in the valley, trudging along, looking at our feet to make sure we don’t step in another hole. But, God is calling us to take a break and come up a little higher so we can see beyond the valley to the next mountain peak on the other side.

God does not want us to get trapped in the valley. He calls us to a new perspective, to a long-distance view that will encourage and strengthen us. We usually get that view, as Isaiah did, by listening to God, by reading His Word, and by allowing Him to reveal the plan He is working out in our lives.

Second, in verse 22 we are given a broader perspective yet – God’s. He is even higher than the mountaintop. “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth. . .” Isaiah has just spent about a dozen verses telling us of the greatness of God. We learn of His creation, His power, His sovereignty, His tender care, His thoughts, and His rule over nations.

When we are in the valley, trudging along, God is sitting securely above the circle of the earth taking care of everything. He has not lost control of His universe and He is weaving everything together like a beautiful tapestry. Isn’t that encouraging?

And it gets even better. Not only is God orchestrating nations, history, and the environment, but He is also intentionally involved in our individual well being! See it in verse 11:

“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart”.

When we are in the valley and we have lost hope of ever experiencing God’s goodness again, He is, in fact, carrying us close to His heart. And, all the while, He is also sitting far above the problems on the earth, working all things together according to His perfect plan.

So, Isaiah says, don’t despair! There is another mountain peak coming. In his case, Isaiah was looking forward to the coming of Jesus as Messiah to be our Redeemer and our ultimate Good Shepherd. In our case, we look to the return of our Messiah to come to earth, to rescue us from this valley, and to set up His kingdom to reign in power and peace. No matter where we are right now, no matter how dark and dreary the valley may be, there is hope. There is the mountaintop perspective and, even better, there is God’s out-of-this-world perspective.

So, let’s not get discouraged if we are going through hard times right now and I know that many are. We can be encouraged by these truths in Isaiah 40:

Be assured that the valley will not last forever. Taking a few minutes to go with Isaiah to the top of the mountain to see that there is another high and blessed place on the other side of the valley is important. Sometimes God calls us to a higher view so we will be reassured, strengthened, and encouraged.

Rest in the knowledge that God is in control. Isaiah goes into great detail about God’s power, His overarching plans, and His ultimate victory. What a comfort to know that we are not in the middle of a random set of circumstances. There is a plan—a good and beautiful one for those who know and follow God.

Trust that He is dealing with us in tenderness, grace, and mercy as He carries us close to His heart. We can go through absolutely anything that comes our way if we really believe this to be true. He cares. He is powerful enough to get us through. And what better place to be than cradled close to His heart?

In the context of all this, comes one of the greatest promises of the Bible. Here it is in verses 28 to 31:

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

If you are getting tired and discouraged, I hope these thoughts give you new perspective—God’s. He never, never, never disappoints those who trust in Him!

Looking to Him,

Bev
http://www.beverlyvankampen.com