What Do We Do in the Middle?

Good morning. Today we are in Isaiah 21, verses 11 through 17.

Finally out of 1 through 10.

And as we've been going through these, you know, we started in Isaiah 20 with Isaiah's crazy obedience, with walking around without much on for three years, and the question of: Can I obey God even when it's humiliating or hard?

And then we moved into: Can we hear God when what He says is hard to listen to, or do we dismiss it?

And then: What are we missing if we dismiss what God says just because it doesn't fit?

And: Is God still faithful, even in the midst of amazingly hard circumstances and when the answer to prayer is not the answer I wanted it to be?

I think we use the term "unanswered prayers" incorrectly because God answers every prayer.

It just may not be the way we expected.

It could be a no.

It could be a not yet.

It could be a keep seeking.

It's still answered.

It's just not answered the way we want.

And now the question that I have: What do we do when we're walking in the middle of these really hard things?

What do we do in the middle of a marriage that is struggling?

What do we do in the middle of overwhelming health issues?

What do we do when our finances are falling apart?

What do we do in the middle of broken relationships?

I think that really matters because I don't know—I know that sometimes I get so hyper-focused on the end that I forget that I am on a journey with God in the middle.

And so we have verse 11, and it says—I'm skipping down a little bit:

"One keeps calling to me from Seir, 'Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?'"

And we—we pray that when we're in the middle of these tough circumstances.

"How much longer, Lord?"

"How much longer will this go on?"

And then in verse 12, the watchman says:

"Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again."

The answer—not exactly the answer that I think anybody expects.

He's like, "Yeah, morning comes, but also night."

And—and I think that means morning comes.

So, a new day.

Here He's talking about the end, but we get a new day every day.

We get to see God's provision every day, in every sunrise.

And in this, though, He's looking much further, and He goes, "Yep, there's still suffering. There's still battles. There's still war raging."

So we're still in the middle of that.

But morning comes.

And I love—

And then we move on, and we get verse 14.

And I know that in Scripture now we move to talking about Arabia and another group of people I—I cannot pronounce the name of.

And we get verse 14:

"Bring water for the thirsty, You inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread."

"For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle."

And that's provision.

They have fled horrible circumstances.

They are displaced.

They need attending.

Are they in the final place?

Probably not.

They're not at the end.

But they are being taken care of here in the middle.

So what do we do when we're in the middle?

Are we getting hyper-focused on the end?

Or are we turning towards God and asking Him to continue to work in us?

Are we relying on Him regardless of knowing what the outcome is going to be?

Are we seeking Him?

Are we spending time with Him?

Are we praying?

The watchman doesn't say, "Never ask me again."

He goes, "Inquire."

Keep inquiring.

Keep praying.

Keep seeking.

Keep growing closer to the Lord.

Keep allowing God to bring you into alignment with Him.

Because I dare say that what—what is happening here in the middle of these struggles is most—and possibly really more important than the end.

Do we praise God when we're healed?

When the marriage is fixed?

When our finances settle?

Yes.

One hundred percent.

But we have to do the same thing when we get through this and we have spent time with God, and the answer is not healing.

The answer is not a restored marriage.

The answer is not complete salvation from these financial struggles.

The answer is not the business being saved.

In the middle, have we spent enough time relying on God, turning to God, spending time with God, that even those outcomes have us praising God, have us trusting Him?

Now, the outcome is not dependent on us.

I wanna be careful there.

The outcome's not dependent on how much we abide and how much we pray.

But God hears our prayers.

He asks us to abide in Him.

Are we doing that in the middle of these hard moments?

Are we doing this when the watchman tells us that night is still here and morning is just barely on the other side?

Are we seeing God's provision here in the middle?

Are we allowing Him to use this to grow us?

To bring us closer?

This section's been hard.

These last several days have been hard.

And I know I've had very distinct things come out of this.

But I don't know what God's telling you.

Only you can know what He has for you when you spend time in prayer with Him and looking for His discernment.

So I ask that you do that.

But while you're walking these hard things, I pray that you'll continue to inquire.

To ask the watchman.

To see God's provision along the way.

And trust, no matter how He answers those prayers.

To know that He is still good.

That He is still God.

He is still faithful.

He is still after our hearts.

Oh, dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank You for today.

I thank You for walking us through really hard passages of Scripture and revealing Yourself to us.

Lord, that while we're in the middle of hard things, that we would turn to You.

That we would grow closer to You.

That we would learn more about You.

Oh Lord, that we will trust You with the outcome, no matter what that looks like.

Oh Lord, please be with us today as we go out and do what You've asked us to do, as we love on the people You've placed in front of us.

Please strengthen those of us who are walking through really hard things.

Envelope them in a hug and with love and support, and help us see these things and trust You.

It is in the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Thank you for joining me today as we wander through God's Word with wonder.