Way-Maker, Way Higher
by Shelley Germain, Elder
It's been almost a week into my Lenten journey, and with all that’s going on in our world today, I admit to having trouble focusing on the 40-day fast we are on.
It was difficult to choose what to fast from. As I prayed about it, something came to mind, but I rejected it for some reason. Instead I wandered through options I had fasted from before––chocolate, white rice, Korean TV dramas, and even sarcasm! But none of those seemed right. The recent Alpha Day-Away, Pastor Dan's Ash Wednesday devotional, Scripture readings, and listening to the Holy Spirit helped a lot in making me realize that God had already answered my prayer of what to fast from. It was the first idea that came to mind but that I had rejected. I’ll spare you the details, but it’s a habit I picked up that I might be leaning heavily on a lot more than what’s good for me.
God showed me the way.
Isaiah 55:6-11 from this week's Lectionary has been a gift to me:
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; 11 It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Even after speaking of the trials and tribulations the Israelites would be going through, Old Testament prophet Isaiah still knew God’s good purpose for His creation and all of humankind. I think of Chris Pan's terrific photo that he showed during a recent sermon of the little mother dove that remained steadfast while birthing her little one, and how that represented to Chris God’s love.
Isaiah mentions rain and snow as metaphors for how God shows Himself to us. Living in Hawaii, we identify with rain more than snow, but don't we grumble if our rainy days last for more than four days as it interrupts our activities? During a recent rain, I remember getting out of the house (finally) on the fifth day and suddenly realizing that the world I was looking at that day had been cleansed. The clarity of light from the sun, the fragrance of flowers and greens, the clear blue of the Pacific, and even "dirty" streets felt like they had been scrubbed! It’s like God used a Dyson vacuum or a Wet Swiffer mop (not to be disrespectful, Lord)!
Driving along H1 a week later, I also noticed a green Diamond Head, and then later a green Koko Head cinder cone along Kalanianaole Highway. Both are normally brown, but that day they were lush and green on all sides. Yes, rainwater penetrates deeper into the earth to nourish creation. It reminded me that God’s allowing things to happen (like the rain for four days) has a reason and a purpose. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and our ways are not His ways.
I pray that I will always journey with Him as He teaches me His thoughts and ways, so that even in the turmoil I see in the world today, I can believe that everyone can know His mercy (Isaiah 55:7).
I need the Lord’s strength in this Fast, as there is a duality in not just “sacrificing" but also taking the deeper step of leaning on my Abba Father to see this Fast through. With 30 or so days of fasting to go, it is so good to know that He is the Way-maker and that my fasting is His good will for me. I praise Him that I have had success this first week!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as I continue to fast and remember what You did for me. I am sorry that I still am disobedient and need forgiveness, but I truly believe that You do love and forgive me. Help me to love as You do, and to know Your thoughts and Your ways more and more. You are the Way-maker, and I pray this in Your mighty Name. Amen
(You can watch, pray, and sing “Waymaker” by clicking here)
