II Kings 19:5 When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah,
Many of us have struggles and sorrows in our life – we face seemingly insurmountable challenges, ongoing situations that drain us, tragedies that unsettle us, and injustices that weigh on us. We live in a broken world, and so are exposed to the same suffering as everyone else.
In our struggles, we can take care not to dwell in the land of “good intentions”. You know, when we always intend to 7. Take action, to do something, to start and continue in a new direction. We may even find ourselves after a period of time where we judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.
What I see in Hezekiah is a leadership principle at work. He has moved to action, and his first action is to intentionally seek God, personally and through his closest community where he has trust and experience.
He has personally and publicly humbled himself before God as he tears his clothes and exchanges them for sackcloth – a sign of his utter dependence on God and not on his own position, power, or wisdom. He personally seeks God on his own, and he also connects to someone he trusts as a prophet to seek God’s answer to his prayers. I think everyone needs an Isaiah in their life.
What promises of God do you stand on in times of trouble, what do you do in your public and private prayer life before God when you need his help – how much does what others may think or say hamper you? Think of Hezekiah – the king, in sackcloth, publicly, at the temple – nothing held back. Will we put our hand up in church for help, go down the front at the altar call – perhaps our position stops us – what would others think or say, is a barrier. It’s called pride.
When we want an answer from heaven we need to enter into heaven’s ways – humility, prayer, faith.
God has an answer for you when you want it bad enough.
Principle of Change 44 – How much you want it, or your level of faith/desperation/hunger is often at the heart of what you receive from God.
Strength – responsibility – You will do what you know needs to be done no matter the cost to yourself.