The Level Path
The path of the righteous is level;
you make level the way of the righteous.
In the path of your judgments,
O LORD, we wait for you;
your name and remembrance
are the desire of our soul.
My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:7-9 ESV
The news this morning was really full of grim news. A cruise line employee falling overboard. Department stores not surviving the sluggish economy. This Christmas season not producing hopeful retail sales. The big three automakers continue to struggle. Amber alerts. There never seems to be any good news in the news anymore.
This past weekend, my sister in law’s two daughters, ex-husband and his new wife were in a very bad car accident. The new wife was in critical condition for several days with a bleeding lever and collapsed lung among a host of other issues. She has since pulled through and is expected to make a complete recovery. Her road will be long and hard. This family is an unsaved family who does not know the complete love of Christ although they gratefully accepted prayers from those willing.
It seems that so many of us right now are in an incredible time of trial. Most of us as believers in the risen Lord know to trust in God for those times to trial. We have been taught and read in His word that He has a purpose. We can use those trials to grow in righteousness. We can trust that God will use those times of trial ultimately for His glory. Right now, our family is going through a trial as we continually face the possibility of my husband losing his job. The sluggish real estate market has taken its toll on his company. They are currently in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and we do not know for certain they will be able to come out and recover. I believe and trust God. I am clinging to His word and His faithfulness.
As I continue to study the book of Isaiah, I was just amazed at the last part of verse 9 in the verses above:
For when the earth experiences Your judgments, The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
While those specific events are future events in Isaiah, we certainly are experiencing judgments or trials even now. Honestly, I had never thought of trials as a way to teach the unrighteous righteousness. Sure, I look at how it effects me and believe God will use these trials – but that those who are unsaved may learn righteousness from them – I saw this as an amazing blessing! Our God is in control. He is the sovereign ruler of the universe. Isaiah 14:24 says,
24The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned,
so shall it be,
and as I have purposed,
so shall it stand,
While we are struggling with whatever our trials are, God has a purpose. Looking back at the news headlines and even the car accident, it is sometimes easy to take our focus off of what God has planned because we may think these events took Him by surprise. Take a look at these verses:
10By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. Job 37:10 ESV
30Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea. Job 36:30 ESV
1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. Jeremiah 14:1 ESV
8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Psalm 148:8 ESV
These verses are incredible to show just how God controls everything: the rains, the droughts, the hailstorms and lightning, the sluggish economy, the slow real estate market, our paths we cross that include pain and suffering, car accidents – whatever our trials are -they did not take our Lord by surprise. For reasons we cannot totally understand, He has allowed them to happen. One day we will see the big picture and understand exactly why thing happened. As for now, take comfort in knowing these two things: God uses them for our growth in Him AND He uses them for the inhabitants of the earth to learn righteousness. What an incredible thought to know that something we are experiencing, as painful as it may be, could ultimately bring the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ to an unsaved and lost person. Our God truly is an awesome God. Be blessed in this New Year.
Dear gracious and heavenly father, Lord, Your ways are so much higher, so much greater, so much more than we can ever understand. Lord, please use me – use my life – to be a light to those who are lost. Give me a heart to ache for them and long to see them come to your saving grace. Give me your precepts and let my trials and pains serve you and you alone. In Jesus name, Amen.
Please visit me at my blog, In Christ Alone.
This was encouragement that I needed. God knows the out come already.
Thanks for the Word today. What a great reminder to me that God is in control of ALL things. If He can control the wind and the stars – how much more can He control our future. He already knows what lies ahead for each of us – it is up to us whether we will trust in Him. Those that go thru trials without Him do not have the peace that we understand. I cannot imagine taking one step or breathing one breath without God! -Blessings, Laurie
It’s good to know He is in control.
So very inspiring.