Flourishing

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your mindset, the pointing of the finger, and speaking of wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:6-11

I rose early this gloomy morning to listen to my childhood church’s sermon online, trying to maintain some sort of normalcy amidst the pandemic that is sweeping our world. The pastor  spoke on one of the early chapters of Jeremiah, discussing our need to beg the Holy Spirit to fill us. A few days ago, I poured over Isaiah 55:10-11, I was in absolute awe of God’s analogy for how His word goes forth. Similar to the rains that pour down, watering the earth and bringing forth seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so His word is sent forth and does not return empty. His word accomplishes what He purposes, and succeeds in what He sent it for. The speaker mentioned this verse, that His word shall do as He wills. While slightly encouraged, this was not the main focus of my morning.

While the pastor was exploring the passage, I was inclined to try and figure out which verses he was talking about. He was calling for us to want more of the Spirit, so I flipped to Jeremiah 17 (which was not the passage the speaker was discussing), and read through it. Verses 7 and 8 immediately jumped out at me: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” 

Fast forward to my personal reading for the day, Isaiah 58, and I started to tremble. As I read through verses 6-11, the phrase “If He has willed it, it will happen” started repeating in my mind. The Lord spent chapter 58 correcting His people for fasting for the wrong reasons. God told them what fasting was really for; letting the oppressed go free and sharing bread with the hungry and bringing the homeless into your home. It was about The power of God being made manifest through us, and His light shining through us, bringing healing and righteousness. It is about wrongs being made right. And the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard and the Lord will answer us.

Before moving on to verse 10 and 11, I heard that voice again. If He has willed it, it will come to pass. I asked God for His Spirit. To be filled. For Him to shine through me. For His will to be done in my life. For Him to work, and not me. 

And THEN. As I read verses 10 and 11, I began to tremble. If we pour ourselves out for the needy, then the LORD will satisfy us. He will guide us. He will guide me. He will satisfy my desire. He will make my bones strong. He will make us like a watered garden whose waters do not fail. 

Recently, I have been feeling pretty dry. Not filled. Not able to pour out. Like my studies are useless, like I have no role. When a global pandemic is killing thousands, writing essays from your safe bedroom feels trivial. Watching church from your laptop feels silly and uncomfortable. But I am first and foremost reminded that if HE has willed that, it will happen. He has willed that millions of Christians cannot meet together. But He will speak through the loneliness. He will speak through the dispersed congregation. His Word will be spoken. And His word does not return to Him empty. It will accomplish what he purposes. And it will succeed in the thing for which He sent it. 

In a direct correlation to Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 58:10-11 gave me a picture of Him who is our living waters. When a plant is watered, it is strong and stands upright. It produces fruit, and even when a drought may come, its roots are grounded in that spring. When its water supply is continuous, it stays stiffly upright and does not wilt. It provides shade and fruit for others to benefit from–because it is strong and well-fed, others can flourish as well. This is the Word of God. When we are filled with His Spirit of Living Waters and with HIS Word, we can pour ourselves out to others, knowing our waters do not fail. We can give our fruit freely, knowing He will supply us more. He will satisfy us, He will guide us. He will provide for us. Like the breath of life He is, He will go before us and behind us, and raise us up to be His hands and feet to provide for others. 

I want to welcome the homeless into my home. I want to share my bread with the hungry. I want to pour into others. I know that is not a calling in life that comes with unconditional joy and ease. It comes with burdens and tears. But the LORD will be my supply. When our roots are embedded in His Word, His well of living waters, we will not run dry. We will not perish in times of drought. We will not wilt. We will stand strong and the Lord will be our rear guard. He will make us a watered garden whose waters do not fail. 

He is our waters that do not fail. He gives life. Plant yourselves next to the stream of Living Waters. You will not only receive life, but you will be sustained and upheld in every season.