Those are some mighty truths that we just sang.
! We need to pray.
God, we are so grateful this morning that you are faithful.
!
Over us.
That even what has been planned for evil, you can redeem and turn it for our good.
Oh God, we praise you.
That you can turn the bad things into good.
You can work all things out for our benefit, for our good.
To those who love you, to those who are called according to your goodness.
We praise you.
We praise you, Lord, for the fact that you intervene in our lives.
You intersect with your sovereignty.
You make good plans for us.
You have a good future in store.
We know that you're able.
We know that you're strong.
We know that you love us and are watching us and are interested in the very details of our lives.
God, we know that you're going to do that.
Help us, Lord, to trust in your absolute supremacy and authority and sovereignty over all things.
So that your gospel can radiate to this world.
So that the impact of the truth of God's word can not only penetrate our own hearts and lives,
but can make its way into the hearts and lives of the people around us.
So there can be some fruitfulness.
There can be some effectiveness because of the power of God working in and through us
to impact and to change the lives of those around us.
God, that's our desire this morning.
Please make it happen.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, last week we began our study through Isaiah chapter 40,
and hopefully this morning we're going to finish that chapter
as we're thinking about and looking at the God of comfort.
And as we think about the God of comfort, how does the God of comfort show up in our lives?
What does the God of comfort do?
How does it intersect with the day-to-day living in our lives?
How does it change us?
How does it help us?
How does it make a difference in our day-to-day?
As we talked about comfort, we got to see that we're not talking about what the world,
the world's concept of comfort.
We're not talking about this superficial idea of things that are pleasing in life necessarily,
things that are comfortable in life.
This feeling of acceptance and peace in your life.
That's our world's view of comfort.
But when God is talking about comfort, He is talking about the things that run to the very core of who you are.
He's talking about the things that change everything about the person that you are.
They affect the heart in life that you live.
They're not just dealing with the externals of life, but they will change you entirely.
That's what God is about doing for you in ministering comfort to your life.
God's desire is transformation.
To produce within us this lasting and enduring peace.
This ability to look fear in the face and to move forward in courage, recognizing that God is in control.
There is a fearlessness about those who have been ministered to in terms of comfort.
We understand that fear is one of those things that tends to grip our lives.
The apostle Paul even had to commend or correct his young disciple Timothy.
The young man in the faith, he says,
Don't have a spirit of fear.
God has not given you that kind of spirit, Timothy.
But He's given you the spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.
And then in Isaiah chapter 41,
God is calling this people of Israel to,
Fear not, for I am with you.
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
Trust me.
Believe in me.
And then the beloved apostle in 1 John says,
Perfect love casts out fear.
One commentator puts it this way.
He says,
Fear expresses the opposite of all that Christianity is to be.
Fear is the contradiction of faith.
Fear is the complete state of anti-God.
That's a penetrating statement.
And God has to move us through steps of maturity.
To grow us in this fearlessness as we're confronted with the God of all comfort.
And He ministers to us graciously,
moving us into fuller peace,
fuller dependence,
fuller confidence in His ability to intervene in life.
There are two times of my life in particular.
I can remember that God has made dramatic shifts in my thinking in relationship to trusting in Him.
Of course, He intends to move us all in baby steps at times,
in moving in the direction of trusting Him more.
But two that stand out in my mind.
One,
it was a dark morning.
The sun had not yet risen in California.
I was sitting in my family room on the couch.
I was giving my heart to the Lord.
And I felt this tap on my shoulder.
God was speaking to my heart and saying,
Andrew, do you really trust me?
I know that life is sometimes out of control,
but do you trust me with the things that are most important to you?
Do you trust me with your future?
Do you trust me with your health?
Do you trust me with your family?
With your finances?
Do you trust me with your occupation?
Am I good enough to be trusted in that way?
And I can remember this wrestling that took place in my heart
and finally yielding to say,
God, you are trustworthy.
So I give you my family to do with them as you will.
God, I give you my future to do with it as you will.
God, I give you my finances and my health.
Every part of my life,
God, I recommit to you again
because I know that you are faithful and good and able.
It belongs to you anyway.
But God, I give it to you to do with as you will.
That was a big step.
Of course, our families belong to God in the first place.
But to go through the motions
and to reaffirm the things that we know
because of confidence in a God who is able,
a God who is good,
a God who is faithful,
a God who cares,
it's one more step towards maturity.
It's one more step in terms of yielding and trusting.
In Him.
And then several years ago,
we were standing at a crossroads in our life as a family
and we believed that God was calling us
to make a big decision
to step out of where we were
and to step really into the unknown.
I'm the kind of guy,
I like to plan ahead.
I like to know what's coming.
I like to have things well in hand.
At least I can anticipate what the future holds.
And this was one of those crossroads in our life
where I was stepping into the unknown.
I didn't have a job to step into.
I didn't know necessarily what the future would hold.
I just knew that God was faithful.
I knew that God would provide.
And again, I felt God tapping me on the shoulder.
Saying,
Andrew,
do you have to step into your plans?
Are your plans really that secure for you?
Step onto me.
Because I am the foundation.
I am the bedrock.
On Christ,
the solid rock I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
Do you trust me enough
to stand on me for your future?
So another step
took place
in my life that day.
As I committed my heart
to trust in God
in another way
that was different from the past.
And God does that for us
as He is progressively moving us
into deeper dependence upon Him.
And then He's ministering to us
in the process to say,
I am the God of comfort.
I will come and intervene in your life.
I will rescue.
I will help.
I will provide.
I am enough for you.
And when we do that,
the testimony of the great comforter
comes and fills our life
and shows the world
that we serve a God
who is distinct
from any other God.
Who moves us from fear
into faith.
That moves us
from the struggles
and the anxiety
into peace and joy.
that surpasses
any of the struggles
that we are currently experiencing.
And I can tell you
by experience
and I can tell you
on the authority
of the Word of God
and as we look there
this morning
we'll see it together.
We'll see
that when we make room
in our hearts
and lives
for the God of comfort
to come in,
He will run to you.
He will rush into
the vacuum of your life
and fill it up
with His comfort
and with His help.
You see,
as we seek to minister
to our co-workers
and our neighbors
and our family
about the greatness
of the gospel
in Christianity,
the one thing
that will not stand out
to them necessarily
is our devotion.
There's a lot
of religious people
in this world.
Many are far more religious
than we will ever be
but what will stand out
to them
is that the God
of comfort
has rescued you
from your circumstances,
has rushed in
to help
and the God
of comfort
will beckon them
in their anxiety
to come
and to feast
at the table
of comfort,
to drink in
the well
of comfort
and living water
that God has
to give to them.
And that happens
as we herald
the good news
of the great comforter
who has ministered
to our hearts
and lives
in the greatest
difficulties
and circumstances
that you might face.
Are we resting
in the great comforter
this morning?
Turn with me
if you would
to Isaiah chapter 40.
As we continue
this great study
of the great comforter
what we notice
through this passage
beginning in verse 1
that there are really
three spokesmen
that stand out
throughout this chapter.
The first spokesman
is God
who is initiating
comfort with his people.
He is the first speaker
and he is the one
who sends his message
out
to the world.
The second speaker
is in verse 3
and that's our
next stage.
And this is
the voice of one
crying in the wilderness
and this voice
is
hearkening
or beckoning
to his audience
to make a way
for the Lord
to have his work
in their life.
The final speaker
or the final speakers
I should say
is in verse 8
and verse 9.
These are the
the heralds
of Jerusalem.
This
this
chorus
of voices
who are speaking
about the greatness
of God
as they have
experienced him
for himself.
And that those
who hear the message
can participate
in the experience
of knowing God
by
by following
the same process
that they have
they have also
gone through
in their lives.
Just by way
of recap
I want to just
take us briefly
through some of the
some of the things
we learned
last week
about the God
of comfort.
First we
we ask the question
why
does comfort
come?
And we saw
that comfort
comes in three
different ways.
In verse 1
we
we recognize
that comfort
comes because
it is God
who desires
comfort for his
people.
look at that
with me there
in verse 1
it says
comfort
comfort my people
says
your God.
It is God's
earnest
desire
for everyone
in this room
today
to know
and enjoy
and experience
the comfort
of God.
He is
the initiator
of comfort.
You cannot
have comfort
without him
and if it were
not for the fact
that he is
initiating comfort
for you
you have no
experience
of lasting
comfort in
your life.
It is
amazing
that God
wants us
to know
comfort today.
That God
initiates comfort
with us
today
when he knows
our hearts
he knows
our wickedness
he knows
our tendencies
he knows
our history
and our baggage
he knows
it all
but he is
still a God
who pursues
comfort
with us
he is
still a God
who desires
it for you
to know
it and
experience
it.
It comes
also
through
the forgiveness
that God
provides.
We see that
in verse 2
the very first
part
it says
speak tenderly
to Jerusalem
and cry
to her
that her
warfare
is ended
that her
iniquity
is pardoned
and as we
look at this
word last
week
we came
to understand
that whenever
this word
is used
in this way
in the
Old Testament
it's used
to refer
to blood
sacrifice.
We also
have understood
through our
study
in the book
of Isaiah
that God
didn't really
delight in
the actual
blood
sacrifices
of this
group of
people
because he
understood
what was
really going
on.
They weren't
pulling anything
over God's
eyes.
They weren't
pulling the
wool over
his eyes.
He knew
their hearts.
He knew
the veneer
of religion.
He knew
the hypocrisy.
He knew
that they
were just
going through
the motions.
He says
that in
chapter 1.
He says
I don't
delight in
your offerings
and your
sacrifices.
They're nothing
to me.
In a few
chapters from
chapter 40
we'll see
what sacrifice
really matters
to him.
the only
sacrifice that
ever matters
is the
once for
all sacrifice
of Jesus
on the
cross.
He was
wounded for
our transgressions.
He was
bruised for
our iniquities.
The chastisement
of our peace
was placed on
him and by
his stripes
we are healed.
It is his
sacrifice
in his
sacrifice
alone
that brings
comfort,
that makes
way for
comfort between
us and
God.
Because the
God of
comfort cannot
be in the
presence of
those who
have not
been pardoned.
So God
not only
offers the
comfort to
us, he
initiates
comfort to
us, but
he makes
a way
through his
son Jesus
to experience
that comfort
through pardon
of sin.
We also
talked about
the God
who chooses
to discipline.
Do you
realize that
God introduces
discipline in
your life
because he
wants to
call you
back to
what's really
important?
He wants
to remove
the things
from your
life that
you have
filled up
your life
with that
will never
give you
the kind
of comfort
that only
God can
give.
He does
it to get
your attention.
He does
it because
of his
grace.
He does
it because
he wants
you to
really
experience
true
lasting
comfort
that only
comes from
him.
And if
you're
filling up
your life
with all
of these
other things
you're not
going to
have any
room for
God.
So God
has to
take you
through this
disciplining
process
this weaning
process
to help
call your
attention
to him.
To help
expose the
emptiness
of those
things
and help
to direct
your attention
to the things
to the one
thing that
really matters
and that is
a relationship
with God.
we come
to see
in the
book of
Romans
in particular
that
judgment
of God
is to
ignore
our sin
to give
us up
to our
sin
to let
it just
have its
way in
our life.
God
just says
fine
I will
give you
the things
that you're
asking for
go ahead
but for
those whom
God loves
he disciplines
for our
best
he disciplines
so that
he can
be part
of our
life.
Why does
comfort
come?
It comes
because God
shows up
God
desires to
intervene in
your life
God wants
to give us
the comfort
that we
so long
for
but just
because
comfort is
offered
doesn't mean
that comfort
will be
received
so the next
question we
ask ourselves
is how
does comfort
come?
how does
it how
do we
get it
in the
first
place?
And we
see that
in the
next
several
verses
it says
in verse
three
a voice
cries in
the wilderness
prepare
the way
of the
Lord
make
straight
in the
desert
a
highway
for
our
God
every
valley
shall
be
lifted
up
and
every
mountain
shall
be
made
low
the
uneven
ground
shall
become
level
and
the
rough
places
plain
and the
glory
of the
Lord
shall
be
revealed
and
all
flesh
for the
mouth
of the
Lord
has
spoken
and as
we
read this
verse
and we
understood
the correlation
between
this verse
and the
ministry
of John
the
Baptist
we
came to
appreciate
the fact
that
what
Isaiah
is talking
about
what God
is
communicating
to his
prophet
Isaiah
is that
comfort
will come
through
the
preparation
of the
heart
is your
heart
ready
for
comfort
to
come
the
ministry
of
John
the
Baptist
was
the
ministry
of
repentance
the
ministry
of
John
the
Baptist
was
to
help
bring
humility
to
the
people
of
Israel
you
see
when
he
was
baptizing
these
Jews
out
by
the
Jordan
River
what
was
actually
taking
place
was
this
ceremony
that
was
set
aside
really
for
Gentiles
it
was
set
aside
for
Gentiles
to
usher
them
into
this
new
identity
as being
Jewish
as
John
the
Baptist
was
trying
to
help
them
understand
there
was
a
need
for
rebirth
to
take
place
in
their
life
that
they
could
not
rely
on
their
ancestry
on
their
heritage
on
their
ethnicity
they
couldn't
rely
on the
fact
that
they
were
connected
to
Abraham
something
more
significant
had to
happen
at the
deepest
levels
of
their
life
it
could
only
come
through
repentance
and
brokenness
and receptivity
of the
word of
God
in
their
life
the
ministry
of
Jesus
could
only
have
its
way
as
they
were
humbled
and
willing
to
receive
the
message
that
he
had
to
bring
there
was
a need
for
preparation
for
raising
up
the
low
places
!
and bringing
down
the
high
places
this is
all
about
accessibility
does
God's
word
have
its
way
in
your
life
does
it
have
free
course
in
your
life
is there
a sense
of
receiving
the
message
that
he
intends
to
give
and
when
the
heart
is
prepared
then
this
next
thing
happens
it
comes
through
the
presence
of
the
Lord
notice
the
glory
of
the
Lord
shall
be
revealed
and
all
flesh
shall
see
it
together
for
the
mouth
of
the
Lord
has
spoken
when
Luke
is
referring
to
Isaiah
this
is
the
one
phrase
he
kind
of
makes
an
adjustment
to
help
us
understand
the
correlation
between
the
glory
of
God
and
Isaiah
and
the
salvation
of
God
that
was
going
to
be
ushered
in
through
Jesus
you
see
the
glory
of
God
and
the
salvation
of
God
merge
together
in
they
converge
at
the
cross
this
is
where
glory
and
salvation
culminate
together
to
help
us
participate
and
enjoy
and
experience
the
glory
of
God
in
a
whole
new
way
it
is
through
the
cross
that
we
come
to
understand
the
perfect
standard
of
God
it
is
through
the
cross
we
understand
his
holiness
his
justice
it
is
through
the
cross
we
come
to
recognize
his
mercy
and
grace
it
is
through
the
cross
we
come
to
appreciate
the
significance
of
obedience
and
redemption
and
authority
and
sovereignty
of
God
all
the
glory
and
salvation
converge
there
at
the
cross
that
was
the
work
of
Christ
that
is
what
he
came
to
do
to
make
the
glory
of
God
known
and
to
welcome
us
into
that
experience
through
salvation
so the
presence of
God can
come
and show up
in your life
that leads us to
the final question
this morning
what
does comfort
accomplish
what
does comfort
accomplish
we look there
in verse 6
and we saw
that
comfort
first of all
leads me to
confidence
it helps me
to understand
that the
difference
between
fleshly
trust
and trust
in him
in verse
7
it says
the grass
withers
the flower
fades
when the
breath
of the
Lord
blows
on it
surely
the
people
are
grass
the
grass
withers
the
flower
fades
but the
word
of our
God
will
stand
forever
if you want
to experience
lasting comfort
put your
hope
in the
things
that
last
the
word
of
God
is
the
only
thing
that
will
last
it
leads
us
to
confidence
in
him
it
also
leads
us
to
a
continual
commitment
a
commitment
of
proclaiming
the
good
news
to
others
we
see
that
in
verse
9
go
up
to
a
mountain
herald
the
good
news
lift
up
your
voice
with
strength
O
Jerusalem
herald
of
good
news
lift
it
up
and
fear
not
this
comes
to
us
loud
and
clear
on
the
day
of
Pentecost
this
group
of
individuals
who
had
gathered
together
120
in
all
they
had
been
praying
together
and
worshiping
together
and
going
to
the
temple
together
they
had
been
ministering
to
one
another
through
the
word
and
then
the
Holy
Spirit
comes
and
then
there
is
this
bold
proclamation
in
Jerusalem
so that
we
find
in
Acts
chapter
2
it
says
of
these
people
who
are
listening
to
the
semblance
of
individuals
preaching
the
good
news
to
them
says
we
keep
hearing
them
say
the
mighty
works
of
God
that's
the
gospel
the
gospel
is
that
God's
word
and
God's
power
will
change
everything
in my
life
it's
not
that
it
just
changes
me
or
saves
me
for
a
moment
and
then
I
eventually
look
forward
to
heaven
but
that
the
gospel
intersects
with
every
moment
of
my
day
and
changes
my
parenting
it
changes
my
working
it
changes
my
relationships
in
my
community
it
changes
the
way
I
relate
to
suffering
it
changes
the
crises
that
I
face
and
helps
me
to
experience
rescue
in
difficulty
that's
what a
herald of
good
news
does
not
only
proclaiming
the
good
news
but
demonstrating
it
through
a
changed
life
and
finally
it
leads
us
to
a
commitment
of
waiting
on
him
!
waiting
for
the
last
several
weeks
interestingly
the
book
of
Isaiah
mentions
the
significance
of
waiting
almost
it's
only
second
to
the
book
of
Psalms
in
terms
of
using
this
word
waiting
in
all
of
the
Old
Testament
and
if
you
compare
the
number
of
words
Psalms
and
Isaiah
and
the
concentration
of
the
use
then
Isaiah
wins
hands
down
in
terms
of
referring
to
this
concept
of
waiting
on
the
Lord
trusting
in
him
putting
your
confidence
in
him
knowing
that
he
is
able
to
help
those
that
wait
on
the
Lord
will
renew
their
strength
we
see
in
verse
31
but
this
theme
of
waiting
and
hoping
and
looking
forward
with
confidence
how
does
it
happen
how
are
we
able
to
wait
in
this
way
and
that's
what
I
want
to
come
to
this
morning
I
want
to
spend
the
rest
of
our
time
just
talking
about
five
essential
truths
that
will
help
us
to
wait
in
a
way
that
pleases
the
Lord
you
have
those
five
essential
truths
in
your
outline
this
morning
I
want
to
begin
with
the
first
one
and
that
is
this
truth
that
God
cares
about
you
God
cares
about
you
we
find
that
in
verse
10
let me
read
that
for
us
it
says
behold
the
Lord
God
comes
with
might
and
his
arm
rules
for
him
behold
his
reward
is
with
him
and
his
recompense
before
him
he
will
tend
his
flock
like
a
shepherd
he
will
gather
the
lambs
in
his
arms
he
will
carry
them
in
his
bosom
and
gently
lead
those
that
are
with
young
he
will
tend
his
flock
like
a
shepherd
as
I
was
thinking
about
sheep
and
this
portrait
of
God
being
our
shepherd
I'm
sure
we've
heard
a lot
of
messages
about
sheep
and
shepherding
but
do you
know
how
high
maintenance
sheep
are
like
they
can't
do
anything
for
themselves
they
can't
really
feed
themselves
they
can't
find
nourishment
they
can't
protect
themselves
they're
so
subject
to
disease
and
parasites
and
they
can't
groom
themselves
they
always
wander
off
sheep
are
high
maintenance
so high
maintenance
in fact
that as I
was
thinking
about
it
from
the
very
beginnings
of
creation
just
after
the
fall
from
that
point
until
now
sheep
have
had
to
be
cared
for
like
Abel
he
was
a
shepherd
right
and so
somehow
right after
the fall
from that
point
till
now
sheep
have
not
been
able
to
take
care
of
themselves
they've
always
needed
somebody
else
to
step
in
and
make
sure
that
they
survive
otherwise
we
and that's
the picture
that God
uses
for us
this
gentle
caring
continual
interest
of God
in your
life
he cares
for you
like a
sheep
like a
shepherd
cares
for a
sheep
he
knows
your
needs
he cares
for you
deeply
he knows
you
intimately
he knows
what you
need
and is
able
to
deliver
and as
we find
here in
verse 10
it says
behold
the Lord
comes with
his might
and with
his arm
he rules
for him
now when you
read that
phrase
with his
arm
he rules
for him
I kind
of get
this picture
I can
help you
with one
arm
tied
behind
my
back
the
sense
of God's
power
and showing
up to
help
with the
most
intimate
details
of your
life
because
he cares
for you
it says
behold
his
reward
is with
him
behold
his
reward
is with
him
I like
what God
says to
Abraham
he says
this
the word
of the
Lord
came to
Abraham
in a
vision
he says
do
not
be
afraid
Abraham
I
am
your
shield
your
very
great
reward
God
is
your
reward
maybe
the
reason
why
we
don't
feel
like
God
cares
about
us
is
because
we're
not
getting
the
things
that
we
think
we
deserve
when
in
actuality
God
is
giving
us
the
very
best
because
he's
giving
us
himself
in
Romans
chapter
8
he says
if God
is
for
us
who
can
be
against
us
he
who
did
not
spare
his
own
son
but
gave
him
up
for
us
all
how
will
he
not
also
with
him
freely
give
us
all
things
God
is
your
reward
and
if we
feel
like
God
doesn't
care
maybe
it's
because
we
are
not
looking
to
him
for
satisfaction
maybe
it's
because
we're
looking
to
other
things
to
help
fill
those
deeper
parts
can
never
satisfy
God
is
our
reward
he
cares
about
your
needs
he
is
good
as
the
psalmist
says
taste
and
see
the
Lord
is
good
not
the
good
things
that
God
gives
is
good
but
the
Lord
himself
is
good
the
challenge
for
us
in
being
ministered
to
by
the
God
of
comfort
is
embracing
and
loving
the
giver
more
than
the
gift
itself
do
you
love
the
giver
do
you
love
the
shepherd
are
you
being
ministered
to
this
morning
by
the
God
of
comfort
because
you
are
learning
to
enjoy
him
for
who
he
is
as
the
great
reward
he
is
your
great
reward
does
your
life
reflect
unwavering
joy
in the
provision
of
God
if
it
does
then
you
will
enjoy
the
pleasure
of
comfort
from
God
and
you
will
lead
others
to
experience
the
same
comfort
as
the
herald
of
good
news
your
words
not
only
express
the
wonder
of
the
God
of
comfort
your
life
demonstrates
that
he
is
comfort
that
he
is
good
that
he
is
the
treasure
does
your
life
show
that
this
morning
if
it
does
it
will
it
will
herald
the
good
news
of
the
great
comforter
the
God
of
all
comfort
who
is
good
God
cares
about
you
he
has
given
himself
as
your
reward
the
second
truth
is
that
God
knows
what's
best
for
you
we
find
that
in
verses
12
to
14
God
knows
what's
best
for
you
look
at
this
with
me
!
Who
has
measured
the
waters
in the
hollow
of his
hand
and
marked
off
the
heavens
with
a
span
and
enclosed
the
dust
of
the
earth
in
a
measure
and
weighed
the
mountains
and
the
scales
and
the
hills
in
its
balance
who
has
measured
the
spirit
of
the
Lord
or
what
man
shows
his
counsel
whom
did
he
consult
and
who
made
him
understand
who
taught
him
the
path
of
justice
and
taught
him
knowledge
and
showed
him
the
way
of
understanding
these
verses
are
pointing
to
the
wisdom
of
God
not
just
his
authority
and
supremacy
over
creation
but
notice
the
key
words
that
Isaiah
is
pointing
to
here
this
key
word
of
measuring
and
marking
and
enclosing
and
weighing
these
are
words
for
wisdom
these
are
words
for
knowledge
and
knowing
how
to
make
the
best
things
work
together
the
balance
of
creation
all
working
intricately
!
to
his
master
plan
and
design
for
me
I
had
a
grandma
who
was
a
master
baker
and
there
have
been
times
where
we
said
grandma
can
you
help
us
know
how
to
make
this
bread
and
how
to
make
this
pie
and
what
do
all
good
grandmas
do
all
good
bakers
do
they
say
well
take
a
little
bit
of
this
and
feel
it
out
and
then
put
it
here
and
they're
taking
each
of
these
ingredients
they're
not
going
off
a
recipe
they
just
know
the
feel
and
the
weight
and
consistency
and
when
that
dough
is
put
together
we need
a little
bit
more
of
this
or
a little
bit
more
of
that
and
you're
like
ah
I
can
never
duplicate
that
and
that's
the
point
certainly
my
grandma
is no
no
comparison
to
God
but
the
point
is
made
God
has
measured
it
all
he
knows
it
all
from
the
beginning
and
the
end
he
knows
from
start
to
finish
he
has
good
plans
for
your
life
perfect
plans
for
your
life
do
you
trust
him
with
those
plans
God
has
plans
he
knows
what's
best
for
you
he
knows
what's
in
your
heart
he
knows
what's
in
your
future
and
he
knows
how
to
get
you
there
do
you
trust
him
with
his
plans
does
your
life
reflect
an
unwavering
trust
in
the
wisdom
of
God
this
morning
if
it
does
if
you
are
depending
in
resting
in
the
wisdom
of
God
you
will
be
an
agent
of
comfort
an
ambassador
of
comfort
to
the
world
around
you
who
says
I
have
not
figured
things
out
how
do
you
have
so
much
peace
in
your
life
so
much
settledness
about
the
future
say
well
I
don't
know
what's
happening
either
but
one
thing
I
know
is
that
God
is
all
wise
and
God
will
work
it
out
the
truth
is
God
wise
or
is
your
life
demonstrating
a
commitment
to
trusting
him
in
that
way
if
it
is
you
will
be
an
ambassador
of
comfort
third
truth
God
is
able
to
help
you
God
is
able
to
help
you
we
find
that
in
verses
15
to
26
maybe
you
ask
yourself
the
question
I
know
that
God
loves
me
I
know
that
God
cares
about
my
life
I
know
that
he
is
wise
about
the
future
but
is
he
able
to
actually
work
it
out
and
Isaiah
in
this
herald
in
these
verses
says
yes
God
is
able
he
is
strong
nothing
can
thwart
his
plans
it
begins
there
in
verse
15
we
see
that
God
is
supreme
over
human
powers
behold
the
nations
are
like
a
drop
in
the
bucket
and
are
accounted
as
dust
on
the
scales
behold
he
takes
up
the
coastlands
like
fine
dust
all
the
culmination
of all
the
worldly
powers
joined
together
against
God
is
just
like
a
drop
in
the
bucket
no
earthly
!
power
can
stand
against
the
might
and
supremacy
of our
God
well
okay
that's
human
powers
well
what
about
divine
powers
what
about
supernatural
powers
well
the
answer
there
is
in
verse
18
to
whom
then
will
you
liken
God
or
what
likeness
compare
with
him
an
idol
a
craftsman
!
a
gold
smith
overlays
it
with
gold
and
cast
it
for
silver
chains
!
Is
this
what
you're
going to
look
to
an
idol
a
representation
of
the
supernatural
God
is
higher
and
greater
than
any
of
these
things
you
can
trust
him
because
he
is
able
he
is
supreme
then
dropping
down
to
verse
25
it
says
to
whom
will
you
compare
me
that
I
should
be
like
him
I'm
greater
than
all
these
things
I
am
God
and
I
am
able
well
he's
greater
than
natural
powers
than
human
powers
he's
greater
than
supernatural
powers
we find
in
verse
21
to
23
that
he's
greater
than
earthly
powers
they're
nothing
to
him
it
says
in
verse
21
everything
do
you
do
you
not
know
do
you
not
hear
has
it
not
been
told
you
from
the
beginning
have
you
not
understood
from
the
foundations
of
the
earth
it
is
he
who
sits
above
the
circle
of
the
earth
and
its
inhabitants
!
are like
grasshoppers
who
stretches
out
the heavens
like a
curtain
and
spreads
them
like
tents
to
dwell
in
who
brings
princes
to
nothing
and
makes
the
rulers
of the
in
this
world
is
nothing
compared
to
the
power
of
God
nothing
can
stand
in
his
way
he
is
supreme
he
will
do
it
there's
nothing
that's
going
to
be
able
to
thwart
his
purposes
for
your
life
for
his
purposes
for
your
life
God
actually
delights
in
our
weaknesses
so
that
his
strength
can
show
up
we
don't
like
to
be
weak
we
don't
like
to
be
helpless
but
God
actually
delights
to show
up
in
our
weakness
so
that
he
can
magnify
!
his
strength
what
is
standing
in
our
way
is
not
earthly
powers
or
limited
resources
or
limited
giftedness
what
often
stands
in
our
way
is
an
unwillingness
to
trust
his
power
and
wisdom
but
by
trusting
and
yielding
to
the
power
of
God
I
herald
the
good
news
I
don't
have
to
strive
I
don't
have
to
fret
I
don't
have
to
strategize
I
just
have
to
wait
and
yield
does
our
life
demonstrate
an
unwavering
trust
in the
power
of
God
if
it
does
then
we
will
be
ambassadors
of
comfort
heralds
of
good
news
saying
behold
our
God
he
is
able
he
is
strong
he
can
be
trusted
fourth
God
is
watching
over
you
God
is
watching
over
you
we
find
that
in
verses
27
and
28
to
whom
then
will
you
compare
me
excuse
me
verse
27
why
do
you
say
oh
Jacob
and
speak
oh
Israel
my
way
is
hidden
from
the
Lord
and
my
right
is
disregarded
by
my
God
that's
the
question
does
God
see
what's
going
on
in
my
life
now
the
answer
may
surprise
you
look
at it
with
me
in
verse
29
he
gives
power
to
the
faint
to
him
who
has
no
might
he
increases
strength
even
the
youth
shall
faint
and
be
weary
and
young
men
shall
fall
exhausted
but
those
who
wait
for
the
Lord
shall
renew
their
strength
verse
28
I'm
sorry
have
you
not
known
have
you
not
heard
that
the
Lord
is
the
everlasting
!
God
the
creator
of the
ends
of the
earth
he
does
not
faint
or
grow
weary
his
understanding
is
unsearchable
now
remember
the
question
God
are you
watching
me
answer
I'm
the
everlasting
God
I don't
faint
or grow
weary
I have
untappable
and
unsearchable
wisdom
what
kind of
answer
is that
well
it's
the
answer
that
answers
the
deeper
question
not
the
question
God
are you
watching
me
but
the
reason
why
we
often
feel
like
God
isn't
watching
why
we
feel
so
alone
why
we
feel
so
isolated
is
not
because
God
is
not
watching
but
because
God
is
not
doing
what
we
expect
him
to
do
God
says
know
me
and
see
me
I'm
the
all
wise
all
powerful
God
I'm
doing
what
I
do
for
you
but
we
are
blinded
by
our
own
expectation
we're
blinded
by
our
own
selfishness
and
self
oriented
perspective
God
says
of course
I'm
watching
I'm
faithful
I
never
grow
tired
I
never
grow
weary
but
we
miss
it
we're
blinded
because
God
doesn't
meet
our
expectations
he's
not
doing
what
we
think
we
deserve
for
him
to
do
and
so
we
miss
his
activity
in
our
life
our
problem
is not
that
God
doesn't
see
us
the
problem
is
that
we
don't
see
God
we're
not
looking
for
what
he
is
actually
doing
in
this
life
we're
only
concentrating
on
what
he's
doing
for
me
and
to
help
my
particular
crisis
we
don't
see
the
end
game
we
don't
recognize
that
God
has
higher
and
greater
plans
for
our
lives
I
think
particularly
about
the
wisdom
of
God
and
the
work
of
God
in
the
life
of
Johnny
Erickson
Tata
who
could
have
imagined
that
at
16
in
this
freak
accident
of
diving
into
this
lake
breaking
her neck
and
becoming
a
quadriplegic
that
God
would
actually
use
that
to
make
her
world
changer
that
is
our
God
showing
up
that
is
his
wisdom
his
watching
his
caring
to
make
someone
like
Johnny
Erickson
Tata
an
international
world
changer
a
paraplegic
who
the world
would write
off as
being
unworthy
God
says
no
I
delight
in
showing
up
in
her
life
to
show
my
strength
and
as
a
result
Johnny
Tata
is
her
program
is
being
listened
to
by
over
a
million
people
a
week
she
serves
800
special
needs
families
a
year
she
supplied
over
34,000
wheelchairs
worldwide
written
35
books
visited
over
41
countries
she
is
a
highly
sought
after
conference
speaker
does
God
care
about
Johnny
yes
but
God
has
greater
objectives
for her
than
her
comfort
he
intends
to
use
difficulty
in
showing
his
strength
through
her
so
that
he
can
make
her
effective
and
fruitful
God
wants
to do
that
for
you
but
he
will
only
do
that
for
you
as
you
!
God
of
comfort
to
come
and
intersect
your
life
to
change
you
and
to
shape
you
and
to
make
you
a
herald
of
good
news
and
finally
God
will
God
will
strengthen
you
God
will
strengthen
you
says
he
gives
power
to
the
faint
to
him
who
has
no
might
he
increases
strength
even
youth
shall
faint
and be
weary
and
young
men
shall
fall
exhausted
but
those
who
wait
for
the
Lord
shall
renew
their
strength
they
shall
mount
up
with
wings
like
eagles
they
shall
run
and
not
be
weary
!
they
shall
walk
and
not
faint
say
okay
I
understand
that
God
is
good
that
he
is
watching
that
he
is
powerful
he
has
got
good
plans
for
my
life
but
I
don't
think
I
can
do
it
and
God
says
you
don't
have
to
I
will
do
it
for
you
I
will
empower
!
I
will
strengthen
you
I
will
help
you
but
our
problem
is
this
our
problem
is
that
God
doesn't
give
tomorrow's
strength
today
he
only
gives
today's
strength
today
you
find it
fascinating
that in
the
Lord's
prayer
he
says
give
us
this
day
our
daily
bread
the
reason
is
because
God
wants
us
to
continue
this
process
of
leaning
and
resting
and
trusting
in
him
but
he
will
only
do
that
as
we
are
depending
on
his
strength
moment
by
moment
and
he
will
supply
he
will
supply
more
than
you
could
ever
know
and
when
we
depend
on
the
unwavering
power
of
God
to
fill
us
up
and
to
strengthen
us
for
the
moments
where
we
feel
so
weak
then
we
become
the
herald
of
the
good
news
the
God
of
comfort
has
intersected
our
own
lives
and
we
have
something
to
give
to
this
world
around
us
the
comfort
that
they
so
desperately
long
for
may
God
help
us
to
be
heralds
of
comfort
for
him
as
we
depend
on
him
wait
on
him
and
trust
in
him
let
me
pray
oh
Lord
please
help
us
as
as for
many
of us
we are
moving
into
uncharted
waters
uncertainty
about
the
future
really
begins
to
grip
our
hearts
and
what
you're
calling
us
to
is
not
the
events
or
the
planning
about
the
future
what
you're
calling
us
to
Lord
is
the
confidence
in
the
unwavering
nature
of
God
regardless
of what
the future
holds
there is
certainty
not
certainty
in
circumstances
but
certainty
in
the
future
in
the
power
of
God
to
make
it
happen
so
help
us
Lord
to
rest
to
be
confident
to
trust
in
the
God
of
comfort
who
can
help
us
through
the
future
and
can
make
us
effective
and
fruitful
as
we
yield
and
surrender
our
hearts
to
you
help
us
in
that
process
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
Amen
let's
stand
as
we
sing
together
my
foes
are
many
they
rise
against
me
but
I
will
hold
my
ground
I
will
not
fear
the
war
I
will
not
fear
the
storm
my
help
is
on
the
way
my
help
is
on
the
way
oh
!
my
God
my
God
he
will
not
delay
my
refuge
and
strength
always
I
will
not
fear
his
promise
is
true
my
God
will
come
through
always
trouble
surrounds
me
chaos
abounding
my
soul
will
rest
in
you
I
will
not
fear
the
war
I
will
not
fear
the
storm
my
help
is
on
the
way
my
help
is
on
the
way
oh
my
God
he
will
not
delay
my
refuge
and
strength
always
I
will
not
fear
his
promise
is
true
my
God
will
come
through
always
I
lift
my
eyes
up
my
help
comes
from
Lord
I
lift
my
eyes
up
my
help
comes
from
the
Lord
I
lift
my
eyes
up
my
help
comes
from
the
Lord
I
lift
my
eyes
up
my
help
comes
from
the
Lord
Oh
my
God
he
will
not
delay
my
refuge
and
shame
always
I
will
not
fear
his
promise
is
true
my
God
will
come
through
always
the
song
comes
from
Psalm
121
it
says
I
lift
up
my
eyes
to
the
hills
from
where
does
my
help
come
my
help
comes
from
the
Lord
who
made
heaven
and
earth
he
will
not
let
your
foot
be
moved
he
who
keeps
you
will
not
slumber
behold
he
who
keeps
Israel
will
neither
slumber
nor
sleep
the
Lord
is
your
keeper
the
Lord
is
your
shade
at
your
right
hand
the
sun
will
not
smite
you
by
day
or
the
moon
by
night
the
Lord
will
keep
you
from
all
evil
he
will
keep
your
life
the
Lord
will
keep
your
going
out
and
your
coming
in
from
this
time
forth
and
forever
as