Food court theology lesson

Read > Isaiah 40:12-31

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding (v. 28).

So here I am, sitting in a shopping mall food court. My body is tense, my stomach knotted. My to-do list is long and my progress this particular day is disappointing. Unexpected complications have brought delays and I’m fretting over the deadlines ahead: a radio show to plan, an article to write, the myriad details of a national project I’m coordinating.

I unwrap my burger, take a bite, and for a few minutes I am forced to pause. Busy people rush around me, fretting over their own deadlines. And I am struck by humanity’s finitude. We are limited beings – limited in time, energy, ability, and capacity.

And while everything in me wants to write a new to-do list – prioritize it in order of importance, asterisk the urgent tasks, and underline those to be done together – another thought enters my mind:

A thought of One who is infinite (Isaiah 40:25).

A Being who is unlimited.

A Person who effortlessly melds the desire to do and the ability to accomplish.

This God, Isaiah says, can measure the oceans in the hollow of one hand, and collect the dust of the earth in a basket (v. 12 NIV). He names the stars of the heavens and directs their paths (v. 26); He knows the rulers of the world and controls their influence (v. 23). He is enthroned above the universe (v. 22), God views the islands as specks of dust, and nations as drops of water in the ocean (v. 15).

“To whom will you compare Me?” the Almighty asks (v. 25). “The Lord is the everlasting God …. He never grows weak or weary” (v. 28).

Stress, rush, and strain are never good for one’s health, but on this day they deliver a powerful lesson. The unlimited God is not like me. He accomplishes everything He wishes. I finish my burger, pause once more. And silently worship. – Sheridan Voysey

More >

·         Job 38-41

·         Psalm 139:1-16

Next >

Considering my limited resources, how will I rely on the unlimited God? During this busy day, how will I worship the infinite One?