Isaiah 24:16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing:
“Glory to the Righteous One.”
But I said, “I waste away, I waste away!
Woe to me!
The treacherous betray!
With treachery the treacherous betray!”

When drawing up this Scripture reading list I almost left this verse out, or at least specified just the first half of the verse, because the change in mood is so drastic. However, as I read it just now, it struck me that this situation isn’t so uncommon. People can be rejoicing all around you, but you are unable to “get with the program” emotionally. Actually, in the context of this chapter that is talking about a terrible drought, the joy expressed in verses 14 and 15 is rather startling. It is certainly true that for the mature believer, our joy in the Lord isn’t dependent on external circumstances, but few people operate in that all the time. Just yesterday I was reading that David Wilkerson, who was certainly a saint of God and magnificently used by Him, had times of real depression and doubt that he was acceptable to God. If a man like that could feel that way, it’s no surprise that anyone else would! In this verse, it is human betrayal that has Isaiah so down, and not the drought of the first part of the chapter. However, God’s faithfulness is not only greater than physical circumstances, it is greater than man’s sinfulness as well. Particularly because God doesn’t force people to be good, sometimes we wind up feeling like human sin can be beyond God’s power to redeem. That’s a deception from the devil! It doesn’t matter what we face, whether visible or invisible, in our own lives or in the lives of others, God is greater. If we will trust and obey Him, in the end He will bring it all to a glorious conclusion.

I’ve certainly struggled with this over the years! Actually, it’s one of the biggest issues I face in pastoral ministry, because of how easily people become convinced that their weakness is greater than God’s strength. When it’s expressed clearly like I just did, the absurdity of that thinking is obvious, but that doesn’t immediately lift people out of that thinking trap. All I can do is keep praying that people will be given a revelation of the power and grace of God. When we have a firm hold on that, nothing can shake us. Of course, that applies to me as well. Just three days ago I came under a concerted spiritual attack, and all I wanted to do was withdraw from everything. I had to choose to trust and obey to take tiny, baby steps, and one step at a time I came out of the shockingly deep depression I was feeling. That should give me much better empathy with those to whom I minister who are in similar emotional pits, and there are several even as I write. I need to express God’s love and grace to them in word and deed, letting God use me to give them hope, and I must not let go of hope myself, no matter how humanly hopeless a situation might seem. After all, God “gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17)

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Help me operate by it, and help me communicate it to those who need it. Help me keep my own perspective, looking at Christ first and then at everything and everyone else. Help me lift others to that perspective as well, so that they may understand on every level that You are gracious, loving, and mighty to save, and together we may rejoice in You, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!