I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.” Isaiah 49:4 NLT

Have you ever felt this way? You feel like you’re doing all the right things. You go to church, you serve, you give, you read your Bible, you pray. And pray. And pray….and still nothing. As you look around, trying to see or hear some movement from God, some response, any response… you just feel like He’s not even listening. It feels like all that you’re doing is pointless. That’s where I am and it is not a place I want to be. It’s certainly not a place I want to stay. So I press on….

We have all heard the passages in the Bible stating that Jesus took our sins upon His shoulders when He went to the cross. We know the story of how He died for our sins so that through Him, we could be saved. But there is another verse, one that I had read many times but I guess I never really focused on it until now. “Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.” (Isaiah 53:4) As I read this, it hit me that everything I am feeling right now, the pain, discouragement, sorrow and weakness, Jesus carried that too. Even though there are moments when I feel so alone, His Word says I am not. His Wordsays I am not carrying this alone. Before I was even created, my LORD and Savior took my burden and carried it. My weaknesses, my sorrows weighed on His shoulders. Nothing comes to me that doesn’t pass through my Father’s hands first. He knows exactly what I am feeling. He knows sometimes, life is just hard. He knows there will be times when I just want to give up. But He also knows this will not last forever. His word tells us that too. “Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.” (Isaiah 51:11) That gives me hope. It tells me that all the circumstances in my life that are causing me sorrow now, will one day bring me joy and gladness. The Bible doesn’t give a specific time frame. I am not allowed to know how long I will be made to endure. But He does make a promise, “At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you.” (Isaiah 49:8) And the LORD never breaks a promise.

So, as I keep on, keeping on, I trust that He knows what He’s doing. I believe He is doing what is best for me. And I know that He loves and cares for me, more than anyone else. So I wait….knowing the best is yet to come.

I am worn out waiting for Your rescue, but I have put my hope in your Word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. Psalm 119:81-82