To the Left or to the Right
Isaiah 30:19-21 (NLT)
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
Reflection
We all love some encouragement every now and then, right? Well, that’s essentially what the prophet Isaiah is doing for the people of Judah in these verses. They had experienced years of oppression, turmoil, and adversity from conquering nations, and the people had stopped seeking God. This was a very difficult time as God’s people tried to go through life on their own.
Isaiah is speaking directly for God and telling the people to trust in Him. To seek God and follow His instructions. In this prophecy, the Lord is described as the “teacher” who will be with His people if they seek after Him. A good teacher is one who instructs and disciplines, but also guides students toward success. If they cry out to the Teacher, they will see His presence and know His voice. All they must do is listen and trust in Him. He will guide them in their decisions by showing them which way to go.
Our God is faithful in all that He does. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). He promises to always be with us if we seek Him with a humble heart. Our Heavenly Father has given His Spirit to those who believe in Jesus. We don’t have to fear the unknown because we have a God that knows our future. He will never lead us toward sin, but will always point us towards truth. Pray to Him and His Spirit will quietly guide you to the left of or to the right in any situation. All we must do is trust in Him and know that His plans are good for those who follow Him. Start today by preparing your heart to receive His guidance!
Action Steps
What, if anything, is holding you back from fully trusting in God? Sometimes our faith steps can be scary, especially if there is a lot of uncertainty, but know that God will always give the best advice. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, seek His word, and then make your decisions!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a loving God that knows us! You’re not a distant, out of touch being, but one that loves us and wants a real relationship with us. Help us make healthy decisions that are right for us. And the times when we try and do life on our own, be gracious to guide us back to You when we ask for Your help. You are good and You are the best Teacher we could ever have! Thank you for Your son, Jesus! Amen.
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
Reflection
We all love some encouragement every now and then, right? Well, that’s essentially what the prophet Isaiah is doing for the people of Judah in these verses. They had experienced years of oppression, turmoil, and adversity from conquering nations, and the people had stopped seeking God. This was a very difficult time as God’s people tried to go through life on their own.
Isaiah is speaking directly for God and telling the people to trust in Him. To seek God and follow His instructions. In this prophecy, the Lord is described as the “teacher” who will be with His people if they seek after Him. A good teacher is one who instructs and disciplines, but also guides students toward success. If they cry out to the Teacher, they will see His presence and know His voice. All they must do is listen and trust in Him. He will guide them in their decisions by showing them which way to go.
Our God is faithful in all that He does. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). He promises to always be with us if we seek Him with a humble heart. Our Heavenly Father has given His Spirit to those who believe in Jesus. We don’t have to fear the unknown because we have a God that knows our future. He will never lead us toward sin, but will always point us towards truth. Pray to Him and His Spirit will quietly guide you to the left of or to the right in any situation. All we must do is trust in Him and know that His plans are good for those who follow Him. Start today by preparing your heart to receive His guidance!
Action Steps
What, if anything, is holding you back from fully trusting in God? Sometimes our faith steps can be scary, especially if there is a lot of uncertainty, but know that God will always give the best advice. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, seek His word, and then make your decisions!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a loving God that knows us! You’re not a distant, out of touch being, but one that loves us and wants a real relationship with us. Help us make healthy decisions that are right for us. And the times when we try and do life on our own, be gracious to guide us back to You when we ask for Your help. You are good and You are the best Teacher we could ever have! Thank you for Your son, Jesus! Amen.
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