In life we all have times of crisis or pain where things go wrong. Damage is done. Is your marriage in trouble, has a breakup left you in tatters, a betrayal made you cry in anguish? Our self-talk can be, ‘how will I rebound?’
Israel was in captivity and a very broken state, lamenting their captivity in Babylon. But God had good news, news of hope for them. They will surely rebound and rebuild despite the depth of the damage done. These words were written for us today too, in Christ they are fulfilled!
In this, my painting in oils, I have portrayed the prophet’s garden stated in Isaiah 61:11. May we flourish as it does, and as we put off the old ways also; see those dying weeds. (Note: I have also shared a key tip from how I painted this, from my Van Gogh unlocked series, in the video below).
Isaiah said, the soil makes things bud. Seeds are sure to sprout in a garden. So too, righteousness and praise will spring forth to the nations through you Israel!
In other words, he will save his people through his righteousness. They will rebound, rebuild and return. Friends, it may be a long journey home in what you face, but there is hope in Christ. I sense for someone crying out to God as you read this, Father God is saying, ‘you will get there.’
God called king Cyrus in righteousness (see Isaiah 45) so the Jews could be freed. Jesus delivered us in his righteousness, so we are saved, and can live righteous by faith.
Turn to Christ and live in his ways today. You will rise again. Nothing can stop you! Everything grows in God’s Garden, in his vibrant church.
And let us remove the weeds, put off the old ways of fighting, malice, bitterness and envy. Peter the apostle said, ‘for you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.’