Last Friday was a discouraging day for a number of reasons. By nightfall, I was ready to withdraw from everything. My heart hurt for others going through difficult times. I was frustrated trying to make plans for the committee charged with recruiting my replacement. It was a difficult day.
When I woke up Saturday, I had a message from a friend at 5 AM asking if I was “up yet.” Messages at 5 AM are never good, and this one proved that point.
So, of course, God was already prepared for my discouragement. One of my daily verses brought me to Isaiah 25. That chapter in my Bible is titled, “Salvation and Judgment on that Day.” That day’s verse opened the chapter.
“Yahweh, You are my God; I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, for You have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” [25:1 HCSB]
I was struck by two phrases. The first reminded me that God’s plans for this world were “formed long ago.” They are set firmly in His unchanging nature. Nothing takes Him by surprise – not even those things that discouraged me Friday and Saturday.
The second thing that struck me is Isaiah’s reminder that God accomplishes wonders – those plans formed long ago – “with perfect faithfulness.”
I do not have any answers yet for the discouraging things that currently surround me. I am still a little frustrated and emotionally wobbly. But God … (how often we live in those two words!) … but God has plans formed long ago and I shall yet see His wonders. He will perform them with perfect faithfulness.
I need to live in the reality of His perfect faithfulness.
