Day 52
Isaiah 42-53
I'm sharing some verses from this day's reading out of order because something I read in the middle of the reading, caused many of the other passages before and after to come together in my thoughts as applied to my "Life with Autism."
Such simple words of Isaiah 45:22 with "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other."
Turn to me...
...and be saved.
So much is implied in those simple words. Turn to me.... Not your family, not your friends, not your neighbors, psychic's, psychiatrist's, Pastor, or your pet; not your child's teachers, therapists, doctor's, Sunday School teacher, etc.
Sure, God uses those things to help and certainly they do! My family and friends and Pastor and pet have helped us tremendously!
But above all, first and foremost, we are to turn to Him...
Simply turn to me. Look at me. Focus on me. Run to me. Cry to me. Come to me.
And be saved... Be healed, helped, forgiven. Find grace, mercy, strength. Renewed faith, hope, love.
The moment we look to Him, turn to God, we are transformed as no other can transform us. We are helped as no other can help us. Healed as no other can heal us. Strengthened as no other can strengthen us. Forgiven as no other can forgive us.
Because as it says in Isaiah 45:24, "They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'"
I know this is a very personal testimony of my own faith that others may not share, but truly in my "Life with Autism" it has been "In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." There is so very, very little in autism that is righteous anything. In even life anymore it seems. On my own, I am so very, very weak. But through Christ, I find such strength to fight ongoing battles that I must fight.
I think Isaiah 46:12 should have preceeded Isaiah 22 that I quoted above. It should read like this, (for me at least):
"Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness."
"Turn to me and be saved..."
Oh how very many years I stubbornly tried to do things my way. On my own....
Then Isaiah 46:4 which says, "I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
Can I have a HOOYAH to that?
There is nothing in this world that has sustained me through autism more than my HOPEISM. My faith, my salvation.
My autism community and prayer partners a very close second.
It is God who sustains Brandon through days of recovery from seizures where he doesn't eat or drink. It is God who carries him over each and every obstacle. It is God who will rescue him according to his timing, his plan.
It is God who will save in him what man has destroyed.
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 43 --- "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze..."
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you..."
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 43 --- "(I) made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters..."
Turn to me ---
Isaiah 43 --- "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
And be saved ---
"I am doing a new thing! I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 49:25 "Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save."
I must do all I can in daily advocating for my child and in fighting all those who have plundered my child's health -- but isn't it such a comfort to know that God is right there over your shoulder as the One who will ultimately contend with those who dared contend with you? Your child?
For all the weeping I've done lately for my child - I so needed to read this day's message of such HOPEISM!
I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save...
Can I get a HOOYAH & HALLELUJAH to that?
Isaiah 51:7 "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts; Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations."
Turn to me and be saved ---
Isaiah 51:6 --- "My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."
Is it just me that needs to be reminded of that? Is it just me that has experienced the failure of the education system, the failure of the state support system, the failure of insurance, doctors, and even at times churches when so many do not provide a place for a family of a child with a disability to belong to?
Turn to me and be saved --- I will not fail you...
Yes, Lord, it was you who in Isaiah 51:10 --
...dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep.
...who made a road in the depth of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over.
...who caused gladness and joy to overtake them -
...and sorrow and sighing to flee away.
All - who turn to him, are saved.
How?
Isaiah 53 tells us.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
I have died for you - so that you may turn to me, and be saved...
For life.
In life.
Wow.....
I love that in the autism community I can be someone who helps others. Who maybe because of my journey, inspires others. I'm not sure I agree with the fact that I'm considered a leader - because I know only too well my faults and foibles, and I sure as heck don't want to mislead anyone because of my ignorance and imperfections.
But I do hope that if I can lead anyone to anything -- it's to follow God. Not me.
Turn to me, and you'll often be disappointed or led astray.
Turn to Him, and you'll be saved...
