August 4 - Isaiah 31-35: The Very Stuff That God Uses

"The impressive art of Isaiah involves taking the stuff of our ordinary and often disappointing human experience and showing us how it is the very stuff that God uses to create and save and give hope. As this vast panorama opens up before us, it turns out that nothing is unusable by God. He uses everything and everybody as material for his work, which is the remaking of the mess we have made of our lives." Eugene Peterson, Intro to Isaiah

I'm glad for the reminder that nothing is unusable by God. I'm not feeling quite like malleable clay in the Potter's hands these days. And my desire for a put-together, extraordinary, chaos-free life isn't exactly panning out the way I'd hoped. In the midst of motherhood and daily living, I continue to be surprised at the strength of my selfish desires - for "me" time, for a clutter-free house, for things to be easier than they are, for no children whining at me (aarrggh!)

Yet as God causes me to wrestle with my selfish desires - and my sinful responses when I don't get my way - I recognize that this is the very stuff God is using to conform me to the image of His Son. It's not clean or pretty or particularly quiet. It's messy, and I hate seeing (and feeling) the ugliness that's in my soul. But I realize that He's using everything and everybody in my life to confront the unholiness in my own heart.

As I read Isaiah's prophecies and try to grasp their full meaning, there are verses that speak to me in my circumstances, reminding me of who God is and what He's like:

a most wise God who knows what he's doing (31:2)

God keeps your days stable and secure - salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus, and best of all, Zion's treasure, Fear-of-God. (33:6)

"Now see how mighty I am." (33:10)

For God makes all the decisions here. God is our king. God runs this place and he'll keep us safe. (33:22)

God awesome, God majestic. (35:2)

Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!" (35:3-4)

And I loved this point that Peterson makes about how important every aspect of our lives are. It all matters immensely.

"[Prophets] contend that everything, absolutely everything, takes place on sacred ground. God has something to say about every aspect of our lives: The way we feel and act in the so-called privacy of our hearts and homes, the way we make our money and the way we spend it, the politics we embrace, the wars we fight, the catastrophes we endure, the people we hurt and the people we help. Nothing is hidden from the scrutiny of God, nothing is exempt from the rule of God, nothing escapes the purposes of God. Holy, holy, holy." Intro to Prophets

God, I trust You. I will trust Your plan and Your ways; I just don't always like the people You use or the way it feels. (Just being honest!) It's ohsotempting to run away and do things my way, but I know there's no future down that path. You are God awesome, God majestic, and I know You love me. I will continue to bring all of myself to you in faith, trusting that you will remake the mess I've made of my life. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner...