SOAP Isaiah 49: No Effort Is Useless

No Effort Is Useless

ISAIAH 49

This chapter of Isaiah continues to highlight the faith and doubt of the Israelites.

Even Isaiah expresses some doubt in this verse:

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

I am grateful for this example of a man who was used as the voice of God, and,

still, was unsure of the difference he was making.

As I reflect on this, I am both relieved and burdened. Relieved to be reminded that doubt is okay. It is human. It is natural. I am burdened because I know that I could be asking, searching, and doing things in this life differently. I can be more intentional about what I do with my time. This thought can easily become overwhelming. But, it is small steps each day that can make large impacts.

What could I do with 5 less minutes my phone each day? I could send encouraging texts to 5 people. I could send some letters with all the stationary I have and do not use. So many things. What would you do with an extra 5 minutes to make a difference?

What I loved about this chapter is that while it made me ask myself some provoking questions, this verse highlights the goodness of God.

Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

Isaiah 49:13 NLT

Jesus is so good! He is with us in all suffering - the suffering that seems small and the suffering that seems unbearable.

I challenge you to ask yourself this weekend how you can be more intentional about making the small differences in your life that can make the larger differences in the lives of others.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for Your constant, consistent grace and love that given us the

strength to change, to be better, to be worthy of helping others. Thank you for

using our imperfections and also for perfecting us. You are so good! Help us

today to be our best for You, to be the Your best so that we can greatly impact

others for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen