“The Lord says, ‘I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for Me. I said, “Here I am, here I am!” to a nation that did not call on My name.’”-Isaiah 65:1
Have you noticed that we live in a world that doesn’t readily promote dependence upon God? Truthfully, what we most often hear is the opposite. Sayings such as, “Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”, and “Do it yourself”, and even, “God helps those who help themselves” are highly promoted. No doubt taking personal responsibility is very important for all of us; much is said about this idea in the Bible. But the concept of being a “self-made man or person” isn't what God calls us to at all. Instead, He is calling us to a radical reliance, a fully God-dependent spirit that constantly looks to Him and His ways. With this in mind, here are a couple of questions worth pondering: Are we quick to “take things into our own hands”? Or do we, first and foremost, look to God for guidance, wisdom, insight, and help in all things?
It’s convicting to take note of what God said in Isaiah 65:1. Let's reread the passage in which God says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on My name.” Think about it, God was ready to help His people, but His people didn’t want His help. Wow. God was ready, willing, and available to be found, but His people weren’t looking for Him. God was, and to this day He remains, “…always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1), but the very people He created weren’t crying out to Him. The book of Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 B.C. So some 2700 years ago there were people who were not depending on God, who were flat out ignoring God. Some things never change. It didn’t go well back then for those who chose that path. It won't go well for us either.
God has made it clear in a variety of ways, WE NEED HIM! In fact, apart from Him we can do zilch. Jesus said it plainly, “Yes, I am The Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Notice this is totally opposite of relying on our smarts, our charisma, our looks, our strength, our own whatever. Jesus told it like it is. We can't do anything worthwhile without Him! God is to be The One we go to first and always. He is to be The One in whom we put our hope, our dependence, our all. As we learn from Isaiah 65:1, God is ready to help us. Are we asking for His help? He is ready to be found as we look to Him. Are we looking to Him? God is ready to answer in His way and in His will as we call on Him. Are we calling on Him?
May we be encouraged afresh to acknowledge and accept that God made us. He knows all things. No one can help us more than Him. Furthermore, joy awaits us as we depend on Him, as we look to Him daily for help and hope! “But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God” (Psalm 146:5).
Lord, forgive us for trying to do life on our own. We need You. You know everything. We don’t. Please hold us close to You. Please help us with all things. Show us Your ways and what You want us to do. Then give us courage to take action in Your strength. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Cheer up, friends!
-Scott