Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.”
I bristle at verse 7 because God has promised never to leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13:5), so what am I supposed to do with that verse? Commentary helps me to reconcile this by saying that God only allowed the Israelites to *feel* abandoned for a moment. He did not actually abandon them. That I can understand.
Isaiah 54:8 “In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
I have felt abandoned by the Lord before. Mostly, I think, it was me trying to reconcile all that was falling apart in my life with God’s promises to me. There was a lot of “Why, Lord? Why me? Why the people I love? Why are some healed here and some are taken to heaven? It’s not fair! I hate it! Where are You in all of this chaos?!? You promised!!!” Through this terrible, terrible time, through the chaos, the struggle, the loss, God taught me that He truly IS with me always. He IS making a way in my wilderness, even when I cannot yet perceive it. I can share this hope with others because I have lived it firsthand myself.
Isaiah 54:9 “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.”
Lord, Being Your beloved child does not mean that life will be easy. There is still heartache and pain. But You promise never to leave us nor forsake us. You promise to walk through the fire with us. You promise we will never have to go it without You by our side, AND YOU KEEP YOUR PROMISES. Always. Thank You. Help us to trust Your presence, even in our fear, anger, and bitterness. Even in the chaos, help us to trust that You are with us, drawing us closer. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Have a blessed day.