“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: Because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: Surely the people is grass.” Isaiah 40:7
Have you read this verse and thought to yourself, “Oh, the nation of Israel has it coming!” Have Godʼs judgments and refining on Israel ever seemed harsh to you? Maybe youʼve gone through a difficult season in your life and experienced the “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth.” People disappointing and failing you. Often we forget that, wrapped up in what may seem harsh is a compassionate, loving, slow to anger, gentle, and kind God, Who in His great love allows difficult times (“Because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it:”) to bring us back to our first love… Himself. He gives justice because itʼs whatʼs needed and best; He allows difficult times to be a mirror and reveal to us who we truly are and who He wants to be in us. Praise the Lord He is a jealous God who will not share His glory with another and therefore pursues our hearts to bring us back into relationship with Him.
Are you allowing the Lord to use the refining seasons in your life to bring Him glory? Itʼs natural to want to look “all put together” for others. But the reality is, there is much beauty in exposing the tender refinement of the Lordʼs work in your life. Itʼs one of the ways that we “cry” and proclaim the goodness of God in our lives.

~Elizabeth Shoemaker