Isaiah 50:10-11 "When His Light Seems Like Darkness"

How difficult for us to hear the voice of God and trust it. We are usually more confident in our own plans and methods than in God's. What a strange thing to say! Those who "fear the Lord and obey his servant may walk in darkness and have no light - trust God."

Has that ever been the case for you? Sometimes we feel that God's ways just don't make sense. Forgive our enemies? Bless those who persecute us? Give and it shall be given? Whoever strives to keep his life and will loose it and whoever will loose his life for the Gospel will save it? All of these things, and more, are just not practical from our perspective. We in America treasure our freedom and our own way of doing things. It just doesn't seem right that so much "trust" is demanded of us. But, God's ways are always right. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all". [Psalm 34:19]. James points out that these tribulations, trials and persecutions all work for our good [James 1:2-7]. Paul also promises that "28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." [Romans 8:28].

We do have another "choice", if such it can be called. If we don't trust God's plan and way, the only alternative is to walk our own way, by our own "light". This rejection of God is not without consequences. While it may seem more "sensible", it is a way of pain. Strange, isn't it … we select our own way (light our own fire and trust our own "light") and the consequence is to "lie down in pain". We don't always recognize that our way isn't working, or is leading us astray. Sometimes we stubbornly hold to our own path in spite of God's warnings and urgings, but you can be sure that God's way will in fact be true. "25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. " (Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25).

What shall we do? Clearly, we cannot do both. We will either trust the Lord, even when we are in what seems to be great darkness, -OR- we will build a fire and trust in our own light. God's grace is sufficient to empower us to trust Him. May it be the case with you.

"Lord, that is the choice I make, to trust You and walk at Your side, in spite of my natural inclinations to choose otherwise. Empower me, grant me the grace to choose You and Your ways. I ask in the name of Jesus, Your son and our Savior. Amen."

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