“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord.  ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways      and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)

As he pulls a chair to sit beside me, his somber voice reflects the emotions clearly seen on his face. He received an answer for something we’ve been long waiting for. Something that affects our family’s plans and dreams. Something he and I have been praying for and patiently waiting.

A promise has not been kept.

I see the disappointment in his beautiful eyes. Disheartened, he pours out words that I have heard from myself many times before: “I know God has a purpose for this. I’m just upset right now.”

I prayerfully ask God for wisdom. His wisdom, not mine. And so, He whispers: “look down.” As I lower my eyes, I “see” God’s voice, underlined and highlighted on my open Bible on the table: “My ways are far beyond what you can imagine.”

Sigh.

How many times have you muttered under your breath: ‘I don’t understand it, Lord.’ How many times have you laid down at night, wondering – ‘what am I doing wrong?’ How often do you hear yourself saying: ‘why me, God?’

If you are alive and breathing, I know you have asked these questions before. You may have done so even today. So, although I don’t have the answers to all your questions, I want to share with you an interesting concept that God laid in my heart a while ago as I studied the book of Isaiah.

It’s a pretty amusing visual: God calls us grasshoppers. That’s right, grasshoppers. I didn’t say it – God did: Check it for yourself: Isaiah 40:22.

I’m a visualist, so please bear with me.

On Isaiah 40, one of my favorite passages in the Bible (and inspiration for this ministry’s name), the prophet reads Israel’s rebellious and doubtful hearts.  He promises once more victory to Zion.

In this prophetic passage, which depicts the coming of the Messiah with a mighty arm and victory, God’s messenger sees past the surface of our faith and into the depths of our hearts:

We doubt. We simply doubt the wisdom, power, strength and unfailing love of our God. We just do it. I do it. You do it. We see our dreams tumbling down at our feet and we lose heart. Someone wrongs us and we quickly wish to take matters into our own hands. We receive bad news and we despair.

All the while, God is “sitting above the circle of the earth”, where He sees everything, and watching us hop around.

Grasshoppers.

In the meanwhile, He “stretches the Heavens like a curtain”, “reduces rulers to nothing” (v.23), “calls each star by name…and does not miss a single one, naming all 10 sextillion (and counting) of them.

Our brains know that – for we read our Bibles. But our hearts deceive us… and we keep on hopping. Grasshoppers.

Finding Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Oh, that we may reach a place in our journey with Christ, where we are so enamored by His grace, so in tune with His plan, that our hopping around won’t last long when trials strike.

May we teach our hearts to remember Who He is… and that He is FOR us.
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In the meantime, let me suggest some anchoring truths, places where we can seek refuge – like the eye of a hurricane – where perfect stillness reigns in the midst of our storms. Allow me to call these “Isaiah’s Oasis” as they offer true rest in the desert and are all located in my favorite book of the Old Testament.

1) When someone comes against you – remember: He is your defender:

“I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction.  And I have created the armies that destroy. But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 54:16-17

2) When your dreams are shattered – remember: He sees what you cannot see and His wisdom surpasses our earthly understanding:

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him?” Isaiah 40:12-13

3)     And when you are tired of waiting on your promise or on your trial to be over – remember – He never becomes weary and FOREVER works on your behalf.

Stretch your wings, by faith… and let Yahweh be the Wind beneath them
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“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB)

Grasshoppers. I bet you won’t forget that visual.

May we be challenged each day, as disappointments come and promises are yet to be filled... to teach our hearts to be still... and KNOW that He is (omnipotent, all loving and merciful) God (Psalm 46:10).
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(This post is an excerpt from Patricia’s book Twelve Inches – Bridging the Gap Between what You Know about God and How You Feel ) Read about it HERE.

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