One of my favorite places to relax and reorient my thoughts, especially when experiencing difficult, troublesome days, is the glider on our back porch. As I gently swing, my eyes take in the quiet beauty of God’s wonder-filled creation surrounding me. And the slow setting of the afternoon sun awakens my thoughts to God’s goodness in caring and providing for me and my family.
While lingering with these good thoughts the evening darkness settles in and I remember that my worrisome situation has not changed. But as I lift my eyes and look to the heavens, I see a canopy of brilliant, twinkling stars dancing above me. Slowly my perspective shifts from my very present troubles to my very present God, who is the creator and sovereign ruler of both the heavens and the earth. I remember that he created and lovingly named every twinkling star. Even more amazing and heart-throbbing is to remember that he also created me and knows my name.
In Isaiah 40, the prophet is writing to his people after they had experienced years of exile and many had given up hope of ever returning to their homeland. They had suffered so much adversity and were so beaten down by life that they were beginning to think that God had abandoned them. Isaiah knew it was difficult to keep a right perspective about God when facing life’s difficult challenges and disappointments.
For this reason, Isaiah believed it was important for his people to remember the grandeur and majesty of the God they served and his awesome power. And so he speaks God’s words of comfort to them, and in verse 22, reminds them that their God formed the heavens and that “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”
And to help them regain a Godly perspective on life, Isaiah speaks the voice of the Lord in verse 25, asking, “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” He then encourages them in verse 26 to look up and consider the heavens filled with stars. “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
At this point the prophet asks a very crucial question in verse 27, “Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’?”
Isaiah then argues against any remaining doubt by declaring in verses 28-29, that by observing God’s magnificent creation, one sees the power, strength, and loving care of God. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, and Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Having reaffirmed God’s glorious attributes to his people who were discouraged, beaten down, and worn out with life, Isaiah now offers them renewed confidence and hope, with these words in verses 30-31, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
When you look at the circumstances of your life, what do you see? Are the current problems facing you so overwhelming that it seems there will be no end to the struggle? Do obstacles in your path prevent you from imagining what might be possible tomorrow? Do you despair of any hope for real and complete healing to happen? Are you feeling alone and powerless?
If so, Isaiah says to you, “lift up your eyes and look to the heavens” and rejoice that the Creator of the universe knows your name, sees your situation, and hears your cries. The ever-loving God knows and understands your fears, your hopes, and dreams. Look up and know that God’s wisdom is unsearchable, and God’s power is unmatched.
Look up and remember that more than the stars in the heavens, more than the flowers of the fields, or the birds of the air, God dearly loves you. Look to the heavens and receive the gift of Godly perspective. God is so big, and you are so small, yet God is holding you in the palm of his strong hand, protecting, planning, and providing for you. Be at rest in his holy, loving presence. Blessed be his name!
“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – June 24, 2020
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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