Recognizing God’s Care
“Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.” Isaiah 1:2
Have you ever poured out your heart, time, and resources to someone only to have them respond with ambivalence or contempt?
A few years ago, our family opened our home to a troubled teen with a faulty, angry view of the world. Nothing we did seemed able to penetrate his bitter heart. Instead of responding to our care, he rebelled against us, unfortunately, to his own harm. He chose self-destruction over life and hope.
For centuries, ancient Judah responded to God in the same way. He’d nurtured and reared them, providing for all their needs, but they refused to recognize God’s care. Their hardened hearts remained untouched, and they drifted farther from their loving Father.
God pleaded with them to return, to consider their ways and His care, but they refused.
I may never have turned to idols or perverted justice, but I can easily fail to see God’s hand. I can become so focused on the blessings, so expectant and entitled, that what was meant to draw me closer has the opposite effect and fuels my self-reliance.
I think that can be true of all of us.
God issues the same pleas to us as He did to the Israelites so long ago: Lift up your eyes. Return to Me. Live daily dependent on Me.
God’s blessings abound, and His love radiates throughout the world. If we can’t see God’s hand, it’s not because He’s not reaching but because we’re not looking, or perhaps refusing to acknowledge the truth. If we but stop and turn our eyes and heart to our loving Father, we’ll find ourselves deeply rooted in His embrace.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer, editor, speaker, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She writes for Crosswalk, is a multipublished author of Hometown Healing among other titles who also writes articles, Bible studies, and devotions. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall outings with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Visit her online at jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com or book her for your next women’s event.
Visit WhollyLoved.com for more inspirational messages or to book them for your next women's event
Originally published Saturday, 07 December 2019.
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