We musn’t mistake God for some overextended father figure. One busy with putting bread on the table. One who tires, errors, requires food for strength, rest from toil, shelter from the storm. Do not assume His patience for passiveness, His tolerance for acceptance, His timing for limitedness.

Conceit can make us think prosperity a thumbs up from God. As if strength in one’s legs is what the Lord is building. On the contrary. Faith is the muscle the Father is working. 

When I consider Isaiah—one of the greatest preachers—powerless to pry open the blind eyes and deaf ears of God’s people—I would guess him a man unsettled in his head. A man feeling quite the failure. Wondering if his work was a waste of time. But what do we find? “My eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” We behold a man who believes… not in his numbers, his fitness, his success stories—but in Jesus. Despite his not earning popularity with the people—Isaiah is overjoyed beyond belief at the sight of his Savior!

“Whom shall I send?” questioned the voice that shakes the foundations of the earth. And Isaiah’s deep anguish is soothed in an instant, “Here I am! Send me.”

The Holy of Holy’s redeeming plan is everything and all our hearts could ever want. The moment the angel touched our lips—wiped away our guilt, atoned for our sin—woe is me!  We’ve seen many things throughout our lives—but all Solomon’s gold doesn’t come close to that moment in time. The hour the Lord ruined us, knocked us right off our high horse, pulled us through the throat of that deep dark fish. And we knew… I’ll never be the same again. We got a glimpse of Heaven, you guys! A glance without sin and suffering. A peek with no pain, or tears, or sorrow. “Here I am! Take me!” 

Every time we set our eyes on Jesus, He frees us. As if night were over and the glory of Lord shone all around us.