Ignoring Disaster Doesn't Make It Go Away
"They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" -- Isaiah 30:10-11
I once had a friend who experienced a heartbreaking divorce filled with betrayal and lies. Rather than walk through the pain, she surrounded herself with "happy things." She didn't want to hear any bad news. She only listened to upbeat songs or watched happy ending tv shows and movies. She refused anything but smiles and sunshine. I guess she was the only one surprised when, years later, she was still unable to move past the divorce and live a normal life.
Pretending life is good, doesn't make it good. We think we can push the negative away and it will no longer exist. That's not how it works. I'm not suggesting that anyone wallow in grief or throw in the towel. God has given us hope and a bright future. But sometimes He also lets dark clouds surround us, promising us that He is the light that we can and should hold on to.
God used Isaiah to warn His people of coming destruction. They didn't want to hear it. He reminded them that telling prophets and seers to only prophesy "pleasant things" wouldn't change what was about to happen. Sometimes it even makes the coming disaster worse. Being like a turtle and hiding our heads, doesn't allow us time to prepare and see God's direction for the coming storm.
We all want the security that good things and happy thoughts bring. But it's a false security. Life has storms. Unhappy and unpleasant things happen. Our only true security comes from clinging to the rock and facing the storm head on. Trust God to hold you close and carry you through to the other side.
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