Why Does God Let Us Make Such a Mess of Our Lives?
Scripture — Isaiah 63:17 (NRSV)
Why, O LORD, do you make us stray from your ways
and harden our heart, so that we do not fear you?
Turn back for the sake of your servants,
for the sake of the tribes that are your heritage.
Focus
When we suffer because of poor decisions we have made, we realize that we need God’s help. The good news is that, although God’s ways are often mysterious to us, nevertheless God is there to help us. As we read in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Take that to heart. God is your “very present help” in the tough times, the sad times, the times when you feel overwhelmed and afraid.
Devotion
As the prophet Isaiah looks upon the mess Israel made of its life, his thoughts turn to the mystery of God’s inaction or even God’s participation in the rebellion of Israel: “Why, O LORD, do you make us stray from your ways and harden our heart, so we do not fear you?” (63:17).
If you’ve walked with the Lord for a while, I expect you’ve had questions like these, even if you weren’t so bold to actually ask them of God. If you’ve made poor choices in your life, and these choices have led to much suffering, you’ve no doubt wondered why God let you make such a mess of your life. Why didn’t God guide you differently? Why didn’t God intervene?
Ironically, such questions can feel especially vexing if we have experienced God’s protection and deliverance in the past. In the line before verse 17, the prophet says to the Lord, “Our Redeemer from of old is your name” (63:16). But if God is our redeemer and if we’ve experienced God’s redemption in the past, why are we missing out in the present? Why does it feel like God has abandoned us now?
Isaiah does not answer these questions for us. Nor does the Lord, in response to Isaiah. Yet Isaiah reaffirms just how much we need God’s help, even if we don’t understand God’s ways. The prophet cries out: “Turn back for the sake of your servants” (63:17). Implied in this cry for God to return is the belief that when God does this, God will help and heal Israel.
Similarly, when we suffer because of poor decisions we have made, we realize that we need God’s help. The good news is that, although God’s ways are often mysterious to us, nevertheless God is there to help us. As we read in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Take that to heart. God is your “very present help” in the tough times, the sad times, the times when you feel overwhelmed and afraid.
Reflect
Have you ever wondered why God allowed you to make such a mess of your life? When?
Why do you think God gives us such freedom?
Do you need God’s help now? In what way or ways?
Have you asked for this help in prayer? If not, will you? If so, will you ask again?
Act
Take time to read all of Isaiah 63 slowly. See if you can get inside the head and heart of the prophet. Discover what this prayer evokes in you.
Pray
Gracious God, you know there have been many times in my life when I have asked questions just like those of Isaiah. I have wondered why you have let me make such painful mistakes in my life. And sometimes, Lord, it even seems as if you have given me a stubborn heart to oppose you. None of this makes much sense to me.
Yet what I know without question is that you are a wise and merciful God, and I am constantly in need of your help. So, even when I can’t figure out what you’re doing in my life, or not doing, I still come to you for help. Return to help me, Lord, for I am your servant.
Today, I pray for all who are suffering because of poor choices they have made. May they turn to you in humility. May you reach out to them in your mercy. Help them, Lord! Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: When the Going Gets Tough.
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...