Life is hard.

These days are strange.

This stuff we are doing seems difficult.

We’re stressed.

It’s complicated.

These are phrases I’ve heard and said a lot lately.

Sound familiar?

Why now?

What next?

These seem to be the phrases that could easily follow our laments of frustration and despair.

We are living in troubled times…there is no doubt about it.

Are you like me and wonder what can I do to ease the burden of suffering that so many are experiencing? That I am experiencing??

What could I possibly to do to help??

I read an interesting piece of advice found in the book of Isaiah…as you read it, pray that the Lord will help you to open your heart to Him to be examined….

*this is some serious cause and effect stuff here….*

Isaiah 58:9-11

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

You will cry for help, and He will say, “Here I am.”

If you take away from your midst

1)the yoke of oppression

2) the finger pointed in scorn toward the oppressed or the godly

3) and every form of wicked, sinful, unjust speech

AND IF

4) you offer yourself to assist the hungry

5) and satisfy the need of the afflicted

THEN

your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.

AND

the Lord will continually guide you AND satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places.

AND

He will give strength to your bones~ you will be like a watered garden or like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

If you are wondering why your burden doesn’t lift…you cannot find peace…your grief remains unbearable…your hope out of reach…why God feels so far away or doesn’t seem to hear you …

I have to ask:

Have you called out to the Lord for help?

Have you acknowledged those who are oppressed and done anything to help them?

Have you stopped judging other people because their situation may look “better” than yours or their views are “different”?

Have you assisted in the care or needs of those afflicted?

Are you speaking words of kindness or only of complaint?

We must seriously look into ourselves and see where our hearts need to be cleansed and our opinions need to be challenged in order to truly recieve what the Lord is offering.

God is NOT a genie in a bottle to do as we command. His answers to our prayers may well be found in the blessing we receive when we help His people.

Stepping outside of ourselves takes intentionality.

Being involved in other people’s affairs can be messy and time consuming.

However, focusing only on what I need or my pain or my sufferings limits me to what kind of healing God provides as He uses me in the midst of my troubles to further His Kingdom.

These verses are a clear cut example of do this and get that promise of God.

Our salvation is free, but the promise of an abundant life these verses offer is up to us to achieve.