God’s Promise and Scripture

God’s Promise: God will comfort us in our trials and restore what is broken.

Scripture: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Devotional

Isaiah paints a picture of the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites faced immense challenges after being conquered and taken captive by the Babylonian Empire. They suffered from exhaustion and great discouragement, being very far from their homeland. They were fearful and suffering from great doubt. In Isaiah 41:10, God encourages them by saying, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 

When I think about my life and times that I needed this reminder, I think back to a season of my life that was filled with great confusion and helplessness. In the middle of my varsity volleyball season in high school, doctors discovered that my femur bone had died and would need surgery to repair. Although this felt hard, there was hope of restoration and future volleyball seasons. After my first surgery, I went through extensive physical therapy while relearning to walk. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful and required another. We restarted the process of surgery, therapy, and relearning to walk. 

As much hope as I had, the surgery was, yet again, unsuccessful. My doctor scheduled a third. That failed, and a fourth. And a fifth. I was confused and disheartened. I had spent months in a wheelchair and been forced to a homebound school program my senior year. I was in bed on a machine for 12 hours a day, finding myself feeling similar to the Israelites. I didn’t know what life would look like in the future or if this vicious cycle would ever end. Friendships changed, hobbies evolved, and the things that made me “me” were no longer recognizable. 

By the grace of God, He came near me during this time. He strengthened me physically as I recovered time after time. He diminished my fears heading into surgery over and over again. He provided people in my life to encourage me and love me, and He restored what was broken. What made me “me” became who I was in Him. 

Although I didn’t have this perspective in the trenches of my trials, it is very clear looking back how God quite literally carried me through my suffering and made a new creation in me. 

James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." This rang true in my life after my surgeries came to an end. I found strength and grit that I could have never produced without my trials. I was able to look at life in such a different lens and share my story to help sustain others during their hardships. 

God doesn’t promise us a pain-free life, but He does promise to be near in the midst of our pain.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Are you in a trial that has caused exhaustion and defeat? 

2. Have you seen moments of God being near to you?

3. How might this trial produce perseverance and strength in your life?