Our questions and prayers, answered by God through excerpts from Isaiah
From the depth of my heart I cry to you, O God.
Who are you?
Are you strong enough to save?
"I am your God!
I, the Sovereign Lord, come with power!
I rule with a mighty arm. See, my reward is with me, and my recompense accompanies me.
I will gather you in my arms like a shepherd
and carry you close to my heart.”
I confess that I am afraid.
Frightened of the future,
devastated by the past,
overcome by the present.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.”
I am too tired to go on.
Too weary to take another step.
“I am the LORD, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. I will not grow tired or weary. I give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Put your hope in me, and I will renew your strength. You will soar on wings like an eagle; you will run and not grow weary, you will walk and not be faint.”
Are you angry with me, Lord?
Because of my weakness? My doubts?
“No, child. I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried you since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he.
I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
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! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Will you work in this situation, Lord?
Will you bring good things to pass?
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit upon you.”
And yet … the voices against me seem so strong.
I feel overwhelmed, Lord.
"I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth?”
You promise that you will be with me?
You will not leave me alone through this hard time?
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Thank you, Lord, for being with me.
For speaking comfort to my hurting soul.
"Though I live in a high and holy place, I also live with you because you are
contrite and lowly in spirit. I revive the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite.
Indeed, before you call I will answer; and while you are still speaking I will hear."
References, in order of use: Isaiah 40:9-11, 41:10, 41:13, 40:28-31, 46:3-4, 49:15-16, 43:19, 44:3, 51:12-13, 43:1-3, 57:15, 65:24 (some verses are paraphrased above)