Reflections on Isaiah 49:23b

13 Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
    the Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are ever before me.

19 “Though you were ruined and made desolate
    and your land laid waste,
now you will be too small for your people,
    and those who devoured you will be far away.”

Restoration  . . . “though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste” – this happened because of Israel’s disobedience to God. They chose to go their own way. So God allowed them to be taken into captivity, and their land was destroyed and turned to wasteland. 

But God restores!! 

In chapter one of “A Confident Heart” Renee talks about living in the shadow of doubt that looked so much bigger than she was. When she turned away from the shadow toward the light, the shadow disappeared from her view. (pp 20-21)

When we turn back to Him and acknowledge Him as Lord and Ruler, He will restore and rebuild our lives . . . to the point of overflowing! Those shadows of doubt, disappointment & disillusionment will disappear in the light of God’s truth and love!

Then you will know that I am the Lord;
    those who hope in me will not be disappointed. (Isaiah 49:23b)

Then is an important word. It implies that something must come before. What this says to me is that this confidence (knowing that God is the Lord, hoping in Him, not being disappointed) comes only when we

1 – turn from our disobedience to follow God (turn away from the shadow into the Light).

2 – allow His healing hand to rebuild and restore the ruined and desolate places of our lives.