Isaiah 8:17 I will wait for the LORD,
who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.

What is most striking about this verse is that Isaiah is choosing to wait in hope for God at a time when God seems to be hiding His face. It’s easy to trust God when things are going well, but it’s much harder when He seems to be hiding. Isaiah had quite a life, delivering so many Messianic prophecies that his book is sometimes referred to as The Gospel of Isaiah, but tradition tells us his life ended by his being sawed into pieces. I certainly expect to see him in heaven! The Bible is filled with stories of the “great cloud of witnesses” that Hebrews speaks of (Hebrews 12:1), men and women who proclaimed by their words and lives that God is faithful, whatever things look like at the moment. We need to remember that these people were not only giants of faith, they were also just as human as we are, and stumbled at times just as we do. The same holds true for contemporary saints. We are not to expect, much less demand, perfection of anyone, but rather be encouraged by their faith when they demonstrate it and seek to encourage them when their faith seems to falter.

Last night I was privileged to spend a little time with a brother pastor who has been through a lot. I was able to share a little of our current ups and downs, and I think encourage him a bit. I know it encouraged me simply to be with him for a little while. God knows how we are made, and He has designed us to need each other and to meet each other’s needs, though He is of course the ultimate source of all our supply. As came out in yesterday’s message, we are to be channels of God’s love and grace to one another, imperfect though we are.

Father, thank You for yesterday and all it held. Thank You for Your faithfulness to speak through me, despite the difficulties. Thank You for getting us safely to this hotel, without getting lost at all. Thank You for the change of pace, and for the good night’s sleep last night. Help us receive from the meetings and from the time spent here exactly what You want to give us, so that we will be better equipped in turn to let Your Spirit flow through us to others, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!