The Lord is My Strength [Isaiah 49-50]

Yesterday, I was tested.  It should have been an easy test since I had written the devotional that morning about tests.  Details I had set my heart on fell through and for some reason, I was devastated.  In my devastation, I lashed out at my daughter.  My peace like a river (48:18) left as soon as I stopped paying attention to the Lord. I spent the rest of the day mourning over what I had done.  After crying out to the Lord I was finally able to trace the extreme emotions back to some wounds.  I was able it identify some wrong core beliefs that had I acquired in those areas of hurt.  What felt really true is that the sacrifices I had made were too great and that those huge sacrifices were not appreciated, and hence would bring agony for a lifetime. Before I could sleep last night, the Spirit brought to my mind Jesus in the garden pleading to not have to go through the agony before Him.  I realized that He understood the fear that the sacrifice might be too great and that people, like me, would not appreciate all that He was going to endure.  He surrendered that fear to God saying, “Not My will, but Yours.”

Today’s readings confirmed what I had gone through and gave even more answers.  Isaiah 49:3-5:
3He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel,
         In Whom I will show My glory."
    4But I said, "I have toiled in vain,
         I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity;
         Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD,
         And My reward with My God." 
5And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength),

14But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
         And the Lord has forgotten me."
    15"Can a woman forget her nursing child
         And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
         Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
    16"Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
         Your walls are continually before Me.
   
    Isaiah 50:
   
    4The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
         That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word
         He awakens Me morning by morning,
         He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
    5The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
         And I was not disobedient
         Nor did I turn back.
    6I gave My back to those who strike Me,
         And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
         I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.
    7For the Lord GOD helps Me,
         Therefore, I am not disgraced;
         Therefore, I have set My face like flint,
         And I know that I will not be ashamed.

What an example Jesus left for me!  He also struggled with the feeling that He had labored in vain.  He met that feeling with the truth, “My God is My strength.” (49:5)  He was bombarded with the thought, "The LORD has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me," (49:14) but immediately exchanged it for the truth, "Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.”  In God’s strength and in His truth He was able to give His cheeks to those plucking out His beard. 

What a sweet reminder of what Jesus did with joy for me.  I praise You for giving Him the strength to endure torment to His tender face for me.  I praise You that even as I, a mother, can have moments of no compassion for my child You will never forget me and You will never forget her.  Thank You, Jesus, thank You. You died for those moments.  I receive Your forgiveness.

   
May we walk today knowing this truth:
16"Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
         Your walls are continually before Me.



Verna McCrillis, 11/25/2009
Feedback:
adv ydv 12/30/2019 01:59
Hi, guys, you can split screen in your windows 10 just read our article https://windowsclassroom.com/how-to-split-screen-on-windows-10 and follow step by step
Bessie G. Green Bessie G. Green 06/21/2020 12:14
It was a wonderful speech or preaching. This is what every person is seeking for the repentance in the name of lord, which lets them to enter in to a spiritual life according to bible. I do writing articles to https://www.bestbritishwriter.com/myassignmenthelp-com-review/ blogs and try to inspire the people to get repentance from their sins.
Richard Blanchard 05/05/2023 05:56
Read our guide to split screen Windows 10. https://dumbwaystodie.io