The other night I was praying about my upcoming surgery and was a little fearful wondering how this was going to be. God spoke to me. He said, “Do you remember, as a teenager, how you struggled with things and prayed. I answered and provided?” I said yes, Lord, I remember that.
Then he said, “Do you remember how you struggled and prayed about moving to Florida. How you needed a place to stay and a job. Then I provided?” I said yes, Lord, I remember that. I had a place to stay and a job within 2 weeks after arriving.
Then He said, “Do you remember how you struggled with depression and you prayed. I provided again?” Then I said, Yes, Lord, I remember that.
Then He said, “Do you remember how you struggled about finding a job when you moved to Lake City and I provided again?” I said, Yes, Lord, I remember that too.
Then I said, Lord, I’m just like the Israelites. You provided for them and performed all those miracles and yet they failed to trust you. I’m so very sorry that I’ve failed to trust you again. You have always been faithful and have provided all my needs. Forgive me and help me.
Then he reminded me of a vision that was given to the church many years ago. A group of people were walking a path up a mountain. They were surrounded by light but the light did not go very far. They would walk to the end of the light and then kneel down to pray. The light would shine a little further and they walked to the end of the light and again kneeled down to pray. At no time were they shown the complete path, just a portion and when they walked that they had to pray again.
Then a portion of scripture came to me “who is blind but my servant”.
When the morning came I told Bob and he said he thought that scripture was in Isaiah 42 or 43. So I turned there to Isaiah 42 and part of 43. Both chapters are good but this was what stood out to me, starting with verse 16 in chapter 42 - verse 5 of chapter 43.
“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead then in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them and not forsake them.
“They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our Gods. Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind but my servant? Or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
“Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not: and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burnt; nether shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee, therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee….”
What a promise! God has once again proved himself faithful and has provided. He is always so faithful. He is God and He changes not.
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