Have you ever left a church service, youth event, or Bible study determined to do better--to pray more regularly, be more compassionate, or serve God more? Desiring change in our lives isn't a bad thing; we just have to guard against relying on our own human effort to bring about spiritual changes.
That determination springs from a longing to grow spiritually and know God better. As we embark together on a study of the prophet Isaiah's biblical book, we will discover a simple but life-changing truth:
Following God isn't about striving; it's about trusting God more. Isaiah served as God's mouthpiece to the nation of Judah but also to the surrounding nations. His message echoes into our lives today as we read his call to rely on the Lord. Using the genres of poetry, narrative, and prophecy, Isaiah communicated clearly that followers of God could trust in Him. I can say with my mouth that I trust God, but my stress, worry, and lack of peace don't always evidence this kind of faith in real life. Isaiah was human just like us, and yet he radically trusted God and called to anyone who would listen to do the same. His message highlights freedom from captivity and light breaking through darkness for those who would heed his words.
As we handle the chapters he wrote--from his challenging words to the nation of Israel to his prophecies of the Messiah to come--we have an incredible opportunity to let go of striving and grow in trust. Unpacking Isaiah's words will reveal that we can trust God more than our own human effort or the counterfeits the world suggests. We won't be striving harder, but instead trusting more deeply the Faithful One who is so worthy of our utter dependence. Out of that trust, I believe we will find comfort and peace to sustain us.
