For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace.
Isaiah 55:10-12a
It was two days ahead of Ash Wednesday. We gathered to listen to Isaiah 55:10-12a.
Be present in it. Be changed through it.
1. Alison, responsible for preparing the Lenten service at her church, felt restless, not quite prepared. Until she heard the words, “You shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace.”
They were enough. Instead of fretting about the finishing touches on her lesson, she now relaxed, trusting that Jesus would guide her into the homestretch with joy and peace as she concluded preparations.
2. Another heard the message of purpose. Change was becoming a constant in his life. Changes from years ago, last month, this week. But through the Lord’s words to Isaiah, he heard, “It shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
They assured him that the Lord purposes each life’s change. And that all would be well in his.
3. I, too, listened to the verses. Hearing about the rain “watering the earth, making it bring forth and sprout,” I was reminded how Jesus ripens things in his perfect timing, not rushed or hurried.
And so the now of this season continues to ripen for me. In this year of One Word: Jesus, I’m not to solely learn more about him, but also to walk more actively with him. It’s time. Go places and do things and love people. Together.
The Word—recorded by Isaiah thousands of years ago—still returns a harvest. In different ways in different lives in different times, but for the same reason—to accomplish his purpose.
Only Jesus always succeeds in the things for which he is sent, never returning empty.
Only the Living Word is that fertile. That fresh. That faithful.
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What scripture has spoken to you lately?
