40 Days of Prayer – Day 27

Lori Vander ArkDevotional Blog

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”  Isaiah 35: 1-4

Finding Strength and Courage in God’s Promises

Isaiah 35:3-4 says, “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

I don’t think I’m the only one who has fears or anxiety for the future whether you’re graduating high school, graduating college, seeking success in your career, or even questioning what comes after life. Personally, since I’m a junior in high school, the pressure of major decisions can be overwhelming. Realizing that every decision I make plays a role in my future is intimidating. In our world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the anxiety and suffering and hide out of fear. When our perspective on life is limited to the earth, we will have only anxious hearts. Just as it’s quoted in the verse, God commands us to be strong, courageous, and not have fear, because he offers a mighty promise: that He will come with vengeance to save us. Someone once said, “An earthly perspective will always leave us filled with fear, but an eternal perspective will give us hope.” God promises to us that in our suffering, doubts, and fears’; He is with us. Our fears and suffering are not signs that He has abandoned us, but a reminder of the promise He has made to redeem our broken world, end suffering and death, and reconcile us to Him forever. We can choose not to fear or be anxious—not because we push down our feelings and put on a brave face, but because He is our strength, courage, and hope.

Junior Sophia Sulzbacher

Prayer Focus:

  • SCS Maintenance & Janitorial Staff:  Rich Strauss
  • Give thanks for God’s faithfulness to you even when you are unfaithful to him.
  • I Thessalonians 1:3:  Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.