Trusting God Through Life's Changing Seasons
Summary
In Isaiah 40, we find a profound message about the changing seasons of life and the enduring power of God. As we navigate through different seasons, whether they are times of joy or hardship, we are reminded of our humanity and our limitations. God, however, is the God of all seasons, and He has fixed them in place. Isaiah's prophecy speaks to a time of comfort for the people of Israel, a promise that their suffering will end and that God will bring them through their trials. This message is not just for the Israelites but for us today as well.
Isaiah's words are like a time capsule, meant to be opened in times of need, reminding us that God is powerful and His promises are sure. He is the Creator of all things, greater than any nation or power, and He knows each of us intimately. In our moments of doubt, when we question whether God sees or cares about our struggles, Isaiah reminds us that God knows the stars by name and surely knows our needs as well.
In the "time between the times," when we are waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled, we are called to wait on the Lord. This waiting is not passive but active, filled with hope and expectation. It is a time to draw strength from God's promises, knowing that He will sustain us. As we wait, we are encouraged to pour out our hearts to God, be still in His presence, meditate on His Word, continue in obedience, and lift our hearts in praise.
Key Takeaways:
- Seasons remind us of our humanity and limitations, but God is the God of all seasons. He has fixed them in place, and we are called to trust in His timing and sovereignty. [05:26]
- Isaiah's prophecy is a message of comfort and hope, meant to sustain us in times of trouble. It reminds us that God's promises are sure and that He will bring us through our trials. [09:44]
- God's power is unmatched; He is the Creator of all things and greater than any nation or power. In our moments of doubt, we can trust that He knows our needs and will fulfill His promises. [19:41]
- Waiting on the Lord is an active process filled with hope and expectation. It involves drawing strength from God's promises and trusting in His timing. [32:19]
- In the "time between the times," we are encouraged to pour out our hearts to God, be still in His presence, meditate on His Word, continue in obedience, and lift our hearts in praise. [45:18]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Bless the Lord
[01:00] - Introduction to Isaiah 40
[02:10] - Changing Seasons
[03:33] - Attempting to Control Seasons
[04:50] - Ecclesiastes and Seasons
[05:26] - God of All Seasons
[06:09] - Isaiah's Prophecy of Comfort
[07:37] - Timeline of Isaiah's Prophecy
[09:44] - The Time Capsule of Isaiah 40
[11:02] - Comfort for God's People
[12:23] - Fulfillment of Prophecy
[14:25] - God's Promise of a Shepherd
[15:14] - God's Power and Creation
[19:41] - God's Supremacy Over Nations
[25:58] - Does God Notice?
[31:25] - Waiting on the Lord
[37:01] - The Meaning of Waiting
[45:18] - Practical Steps for Waiting
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 40
2. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
3. Psalm 147:4
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Observation Questions:
1. In Isaiah 40, what message does Isaiah convey about God's power and His relationship with creation? How does this relate to the changing seasons of life? [19:41]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of Isaiah's prophecy as a "time capsule" for the people of Israel? What purpose does it serve during their times of trouble? [09:44]
3. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of "waiting on the Lord" as an active process? [32:19]
4. How does the sermon use the imagery of stars to emphasize God's knowledge and care for us? [29:19]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean for God to be the "God of all seasons," and how does this understanding impact our view of life's challenges and changes? [05:26]
2. How can Isaiah's message of comfort and hope be applied to our personal struggles today? In what ways does it encourage us to trust in God's promises? [09:44]
3. The sermon mentions that waiting on the Lord involves drawing strength from His promises. How can this be practically applied in our daily lives? [32:19]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's power is greater than any nation or power? How does this perspective help us in moments of doubt or fear? [19:41]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current season in your life. How can you actively wait on the Lord during this time, and what specific steps can you take to draw strength from His promises? [32:19]
2. Think of a time when you felt like God was not noticing your struggles. How can the reminder that God knows the stars by name encourage you to trust that He knows your needs as well? [29:19]
3. The sermon encourages us to pour out our hearts to God and be still in His presence. What specific practice can you incorporate into your routine to make this a regular part of your spiritual life? [45:18]
4. How can you apply the message of Isaiah 40 to bring comfort and hope to someone else who is going through a difficult season? What practical steps can you take to support them? [09:44]
5. Identify a situation where you are tempted to control or counter the seasons of life. How can you surrender this to God and trust in His timing and sovereignty? [03:33]
6. The sermon mentions the importance of meditating on God's Word. Choose a passage from Isaiah 40 or another scripture that speaks to your current situation. How can you meditate on this passage throughout the week? [48:17]
7. Consider the "time between the times" in your life. What is one way you can embrace this period as a season of growth and preparation, rather than just a time to endure? [33:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Sovereignty Over Seasons
In life, we experience various seasons that remind us of our humanity and limitations. These seasons, whether joyful or challenging, are fixed in place by God, who is sovereign over all. We are called to trust in His timing and sovereignty, knowing that He is the God of all seasons. This trust requires us to relinquish our desire to control and instead rest in the assurance that God has a purpose for each season we encounter. As we navigate through life's changes, we can find peace in the knowledge that God is with us, guiding us through every moment. [05:26]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (ESV): "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you actively choose to trust Him in this area today?
Day 2: Finding Comfort in God's Promises
Isaiah's prophecy offers a message of comfort and hope, assuring us that God's promises are sure and that He will bring us through our trials. This message was initially given to the Israelites, promising them an end to their suffering, but it is also relevant to us today. In times of trouble, we can find solace in the certainty of God's promises, knowing that He is faithful and will fulfill them. This assurance allows us to face our challenges with confidence, knowing that God is working for our good and His glory. [09:44]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What is a specific promise from God that you need to hold onto during a current trial? How can you remind yourself of this promise daily?
Day 3: Recognizing God's Unmatched Power
God's power is unmatched; He is the Creator of all things and greater than any nation or power. In moments of doubt, we can trust that He knows our needs and will fulfill His promises. This understanding of God's supremacy provides us with a firm foundation, allowing us to stand strong in our faith even when circumstances seem overwhelming. By recognizing God's greatness, we can find peace and assurance, knowing that He is in control and that nothing is beyond His reach. [19:41]
Job 26:7-8 (ESV): "He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them."
Reflection: In what ways have you seen God's power at work in your life recently? How can acknowledging His power help you face current challenges?
Day 4: Actively Waiting on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord is an active process filled with hope and expectation. It involves drawing strength from God's promises and trusting in His timing. This waiting is not passive but requires us to engage in practices that deepen our relationship with God, such as prayer, meditation on His Word, and obedience. As we wait, we are encouraged to pour out our hearts to God, be still in His presence, and lift our hearts in praise, knowing that He will sustain us. [32:19]
Psalm 27:14 (ESV): "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"
Reflection: How can you actively wait on the Lord in your current season of life? What specific practices can you incorporate to strengthen your faith during this time?
Day 5: Embracing the "Time Between the Times"
In the "time between the times," we are encouraged to pour out our hearts to God, be still in His presence, meditate on His Word, continue in obedience, and lift our hearts in praise. This period of waiting is an opportunity for growth and transformation as we rely on God's strength and guidance. By embracing this time, we can develop a deeper understanding of God's character and His plans for our lives. It is a time to cultivate patience, trust, and hope, knowing that God is faithful and will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing. [45:18]
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
Reflection: What is one way you can embrace the "time between the times" in your life right now? How can you use this period to grow closer to God and deepen your faith?
Quotes
Seasons come Seasons go no matter what we do and one of the things that seasons do is remind us of our Humanity of our limitedness the fact that we are not God God says I have fixed the seasons I have set the seasons we are not he is the God of All Seasons. [00:05:26]
Isaiah In this passage is called upon to prophesy a SE season of comfort that will come to the people of Israel and this is a word that is meant to sustain them in the trouble that lies ahead and as we listen to this passage it's almost as if we can hear it's it's almost like reading a letter. [00:06:09]
The grass withers the flower Fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it surely the people are grass the grass withers the flower Fades but the word of our God will stand forever okay so the day is coming the day is coming don't worry about it the word will be fulfilled. [00:12:23]
Behold the Lord God comes with might his arm rules for him him and behold his reward is with him and his recompense before him he will tend his flock Like a Shepherd he will gather the Lambs in his arms He will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young. [00:15:14]
How will God do it through his might and there's a few things that he does to show just how strong he is right here in verses 12- 24 the first one has to do with creation listen to this who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span. [00:19:41]
Behold the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are sounded as the dust on the scales behold he takes up the coastlands like fine dust Lebanon would not suffice for fuel nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering what is what is he saying Lebanon was known for its forests of Cedars. [00:25:58]
Lift up your eyes on high and see look up in the sky look up at a starry night and see who created these he who brings out their hosts by number calling them all by name by the greatness of his might and because he is strong and power not one is missing. [00:31:25]
The Lord is the Everlasting God the creator of the ends of the Earth he does not faint or grow weary his understanding is unsearchable he gives power and note that word power we're going to come back to in a minute he gives power to the faint and to him who has no might note that he increases strength. [00:32:19]
When we are in the seasons that we're in or what we could call the time between the times what do we do with the time between the times first of all when we are in that time which I can be difficult time between the times when the seasons are changing particularly as we move into spring. [00:37:01]
The time between the times is a time it is a season it is a moment that God has fixed and in that time he speaks and he does work in us the thing to not do is to wait until it's over I by that what I mean is just trying to get through it to just want it to be over. [00:37:01]
Those who wait is to hope to wait for a fulfilled promise to look for what God has to come not trying to get out of it but drawing strength for today from what is to come you see the difference I'm today in the moment of trial I know the promise ahead I'm not trying to just get out of this trial. [00:37:01]
Pour out your heart to God and be specific what thought you were going to be complex no I said simple promise Pour Out Your Heart To God Be specific it's amazing and I'm I'm putting myself in this category too okay so I'm I'm putting myself in this category it's amazing the number of times. [00:45:18]
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