God lives within us and will help us overcome life’s difficulties
Life’s road can sometimes be long and filled with difficulties.
Isaiah 57:15 reads, “For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose Name is Holy, I dwell on a high and holy place and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Circumstances and situations can wear us out. However, strength that is renewed in the power of the Lord will carry us through every difficulty of life. He is the “way maker” able to make a way, where there seems to be no way.
No matter what we face as we walk this earthly place, we can have the assurance that the Lord is there, every step of the way even if we don’t think or feel it to be true. His Presence offers the assurance of help and comfort in times of trouble and stress.
Although He dwells in a high and holy place, He also dwells with us, and as Christians, in us. Scripture tells us that He lives within us, therefore, we are to prepare a home for Him in our hearts. This comes only by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
He is the way, truth and life, no one can come to the Father or God’s Kingdom, except through Him.
In the portion of Scripture from Isaiah, the Lord speaks to His people. The promise comes at a time when there is much rebellion, idolatry and disobedience to the Word of the Lord. It is a time when the people chose to sin and lost their vision and heart for the Living God.
Although He brought assurance and a blessed promise to be with His children always, they refused and went the other direction. Not so different in society today.
Discouragement, disappointment and hurts contribute to an attitude towards the Lord that is undeserved.
There are times we blame God for circumstances of life, hearts grow cold and there is anger that goes unresolved. Some make the decision of running from the Lord rather than into His arms.
Some may have experienced such pain that they find it hard to believe that the Lord loves and cares for them, and may even be angry at the Lord for unanswered heartfelt prayers, disgruntled with “religion” and its systems, and have been hurt deeply by the Body of Christ or its leaders.
It is a sad and solitary place to remain in when all that is required from us is to acknowledge and reach out the Lord, who will meet us where we are and revive us in our time of need.
God is always present; He is omnipresent. His eyes are continually looking upon His creation, wanting to have a relationship with each one of us.
The Scripture declares that although He is God, He is also God with us, here for each one who has a contrite and lowly spirit to revive spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
The word lowly speaks of humility, knowing our own need and not being able to help ourselves. It is a position of recognizing we can’t solve or do it on our own. It is a heart attitude, which is opposite of pride.
The word contrite speaks of one who is broken, and recognizes its own wrong choices, offers no excuses and shifts no blame. A contrite heart throws itself on the mercy of God and receives His love and forgiveness.
God in turn “revives” our lives and spirits. The word “revive” means to give new strength and to regain life, to regenerate and to resuscitate.
What a precious promise is given to us.
As we examine ourselves we should all be able to honestly relate to being in a place where we need the Lord to lift us up.
All we need to do is ask. He will lift us up on eagle’s wings and renew and revive us; putting His strength in a tired, weary vessel.
He is as close as the mention of His Name.
Patty Scahill of Austintown is a conference speaker and author.