“Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:27-31 KJV)
One of the most frustrating aspects of pastoral ministry is trying to help pessimists. Those whose attitude is that “nothing ever goes right” in their world can be exasperating to say the least. The Prophet Isaiah got to the place many of us pastors get: “Enough already!”
We pastors are realists, but come now let us reason together. Why would anyone, especially God’s people, truly believe that God has forgotten them? Perhaps that person(s) has forgotten “that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator” does not get tired or weary.
Why would we accuse God of losing interest in our needs and abandoning us? For us to think, much less say, that God has forgotten us is an insult to God. Thinking such thoughts ought to be a clear signal that an attitude adjustment is needed. Our ways are not God’s way and trying to understand his “work” in our lives may be a futile endeavor.
Instead, it might be better for us to exercise patience. Remember that God gives increasing strength to us in our tired and weary state. Even if a young man gets so tired and so weary that he quits, God is still faithful. And if we will be patient with God; put our trust in God; be faithful to God, then we will renew our strength. We will rise up like eagles soaring in the sky. We will persevere in the midst of our tiring and weary circumstances without losing heart. I think I’ll wait on the Lord.
Dear Father, thank you for never forsaking your people. Forgive us our murmurings and complaints. Enable us to persevere with faith in you. This I humbly pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today and renew your attitude,