Though We Fall Short, The Father God Waits For Us To Return

Trust in the Lord. This is our salvation in times of trouble. Isaiah reminds us of this truth here in this chapter. Israel was no more a stranger to difficulties than we are. The story of Israel reveals our story too. Like Israel, we too sometimes find ourselves attacked, or threatened unjustly by outside forces. Like Israel, we are not alone. We have our defender.

It is a great comfort to know that God is gracious toward those who love him and keep his commandments. Those who fear the Lord, who obey his commandments, have in him a defender, an ever constant and faithful protector. We do not escape suffering in this world, but how we respond to it makes all the difference. Because we love God and because we know he loves us, we can turn our suffering into meaning and purpose. We can do this because God’s love for us is infinite and unbreakable.

Though we ourselves fall short in many times and in many ways, we know that God waits for us to return to him like the Prodigal Father. In times of either internal or external distress, God hears our cries. If we turn to him, he will indeed be our arm, our strength in the morning. It is he who will comfort us when we are oppressed. In faith, we know that he is, in fact, our salvation. Indeed, our salvation can come from no other source.

When we are troubled, we often feel alone, without friends, or allies. Those that are closest to us sometimes abandon us and in this we suffer even more. But if we put our trust in God, if we obey him in all things out of humble love, we will know the comfort of his presence in the midst of our trials. God alone is eternal. God’s love alone is infinite. God does not put us to the test, but walks with us when we are being tested. Jesus proves that to us in his incarnation, his death and his resurrection. He is the evidence of our salvation for all time. Emmanuel! God is with us! Thanks be to God!

Lord, in you we place our confidence. Your love is our strength. Under the protection of your arm we are saved. Help us to turn to you with confidence in our times of trouble. Fill us with knowledge of your presence when we most need it. Give us the grace to grow more obedient to your great love each day. Use us, then, as living instruments of that love for all those we find in distress around us, in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our cities. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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