Finding Strength and Stability In God

Finding Strength and Stability in God

Evening Scripture

Isaiah 33
Woe to you, destroyer,
you who have not been destroyed!
Woe to you, betrayer,
you who have not been betrayed!
When you stop destroying,
you will be destroyed;
when you stop betraying,
you will be betrayed.

Lord, be gracious to us;
we long for you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.
At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee;
when you rise up, the nations scatter.
Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts;
like a swarm of locusts people pounce on it.

The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness.
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets;
the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
The highways are deserted,
no travelers are on the roads.
The treaty is broken,
its witnesses are despised,
no one is respected.
The land dries up and wastes away,
Lebanon is ashamed and withers;
Sharon is like the Arabah,
and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.

“Now will I arise,” says the Lord.
“Now will I be exalted;
now will I be lifted up.
You conceive chaff,
you give birth to straw;
your breath is a fire that consumes you.
The peoples will be burned to ashes;
like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze.”

You who are far away, hear what I have done;
you who are near, acknowledge my power!
The sinners in Zion are terrified;
trembling grips the godless:
“Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?
Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?”
Those who walk righteously
and speak what is right,
who reject gain from extortion
and keep their hands from accepting bribes,
who stop their ears against plots of murder
and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—
they are the ones who will dwell on the heights,
whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
Their bread will be supplied,
and water will not fail them.

Your eyes will see the king in his beauty
and view a land that stretches afar.
In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror:
“Where is that chief officer?
Where is the one who took the revenue?
Where is the officer in charge of the towers?”
You will see those arrogant people no more,
people whose speech is obscure,
whose language is strange and incomprehensible.

Look on Zion, the city of our festivals;
your eyes will see Jerusalem,
a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved;
its stakes will never be pulled up,
nor any of its ropes broken.
There the Lord will be our Mighty One.
It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams.
No galley with oars will ride them,
no mighty ship will sail them.
For the Lord is our judge,
the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
it is he who will save us.

Your rigging hangs loose:
The mast is not held secure,
the sail is not spread.
Then an abundance of spoils will be divided
and even the lame will carry off plunder.
No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”;
and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.

Evening Reflection

Sometimes, along with our physical legs feeling shaky and off-balance, so can our faith legs feel wobbly and unsteady, leaving us needing someone to hold onto, or even help prop us up. Yet in life, there may be times when no one is around, or no one is willing or strong enough to help us. So what do we do when we need strength and stability beyond what we can muster or find in our own strength?

When feeling like our faith is about to collapse or crumble over all life is dealing us, we can call out to God, asking Him to be our strength and stability, assured and confident, that at times when we need it the most, God is gracious to hear us and respond, to hold us up, and to be our salvation in our lowest and darkest of times, especially when it seems like the world and everyone is too busy or unavailable to help us. He is our sure foundation, the place where we find strength and stability in our most vulnerable moments. God is where our faith can be renewed, where we find peace and even joy, resting safely and securely in His steady and stable arms.

Evening Prayer

God,
I come to you tonight, feeling shaky, unstable in my faith, ready to collapse under the weight of everyday life. Yet, you promise to be my strong foundation. So I look to You to hold me up, to renew my faith, and to be my daily strength and stability each day of my life, when I feel unbalanced and even when I feel like I’m strong enough in myself.
I know You, O Lord, are my Mighty One, the one I turn to when life tries to shake my faith and my legs feel unsure and ready to give out underneath me.
Thank you, God, for being my strength every morning and my salvation in distress, and for being a rich source of wisdom and knowledge. Help me to walk daily in the fear of the Lord, which is the key to Your treasure.
Amen.

Want More?

If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.