1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 2: Hello, thank you for listening to your Daily Bible Verse, 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 2: the podcast that examines one verse each day to learn 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: more about God and his will for us. I'm your host, 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 2: Jennifer Satary, and after this short word from our sponsors, 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: we'll continue with our lent series God Meets You in 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 2: the Wilderness with a discussion on Isaiah fifty three to five. 8 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: Today's Bible verses Isaiah fifty three to five. But he 9 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. 10 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,639 Speaker 2: The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and 11 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 2: by his wounds we are healed. That invites us to 12 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: connect with the one who not only meets us in 13 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 2: our wilderness seasons, but who understands the anguish we experience 14 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: during what some term the dark night of the soul. 15 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 2: This is a place where we don't have to pretend 16 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 2: that everything is okay, that our faith never fails, and 17 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 2: that our hardship hasn't left us feeling isolated and afraid, 18 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 2: a place where we wrestle with God and refuse to 19 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:26,479 Speaker 2: let go until we encounter the one we seek when 20 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 2: we're hurting. Isn't that what we most crave? What we 21 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 2: most need. Before we dive into today's discussion, I wanted 22 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 2: to invite those of you who are in a tough season, 23 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 2: who are hurting, and maybe who feel anxious or afraid 24 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 2: about your circumstances or future, to download my free resource 25 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 2: when Fear Strikes, a seven day reset for anxious hearts. 26 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: It'll help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with God's 27 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: presence one day at a time. Is filled with scripture, 28 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: calming practices, and guiding prayer prompts designed to help you 29 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,559 Speaker 2: find steadiness, comfort and hope, and most importantly, to deepen 30 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 2: your connection with Christ. Visit my websites free faith building 31 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 2: Resources and other freebies page to download, or reach out 32 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: to me through my contact page and I can send 33 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: you the direct link. And now back to today's lent discussion. 34 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: A couple years ago, I endured several months of excruciating 35 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 2: physical pain where I often felt like electrodes ignited every 36 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: nerve ending. While I'd endured similar periods numerous times in 37 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: the twelve years prior, this one felt different, relentless, and 38 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 2: persisted long enough that I began to fret over the 39 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: rest of my life, would relief never come? At the time, 40 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 2: my husband and I were doing a lot of traveling 41 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 2: for events related to my role as a Christian communicator. 42 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 2: I've grown accustomed to speaking, writing, living life even when 43 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 2: my conditions flare. Only this time that felt nearly impossible. 44 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: One morning, after a particularly difficult night, I grabbed my Bible, 45 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 2: angry and only partially engaged, and Jesus met me there 46 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: in the pages of scripture and in my pain. He 47 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 2: spoke words of comfort, strength and encouragement, reminding me that 48 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: he was with me and wouldn't leave. He also helped 49 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: me see that so long as I clung to him, 50 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 2: people would see him and his grace through me, that 51 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 2: I could find purpose in my suffering. When our world 52 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 2: comes undone, That's what we prave right to know we're 53 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: not alone, that Christ is with us, gets us, and 54 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 2: still wants. 55 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: To use us. To know that we still have purpose, 56 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: that good still will come. Consider this, Jesus most revealed 57 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: his heart, his character, the core of his being while 58 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: in his weakest, most wounded state on the cross. As 59 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: today's verse states, he was pierced crushed for us that 60 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: we might enjoy a deep, eternal, and unhindered relationship with him, Isaiah, 61 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: a prominent Old Testament prophet, spoke the prophecy recorded in 62 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: Isaiah fifty three around seven hundred years before Christ's birth. 63 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: He began his writing pointing out God's people's sins. Despite 64 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: God's continued faithfulness, they rebelled again and again and in 65 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: pretty horrendous ways. This is the message we see throughout 66 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: scripture threads of the Gospel, revealed through every one of 67 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: God's merciful acts as he lovingly and fiercely pursues the 68 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: one he loves. He knows, and history proves humanity can 69 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: never live up to their own ideals, let alone the 70 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: Lord's holy standards. That's what makes Isaiah fifty three so powerful. 71 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: It assures us that Jesus isn't repelled by our brokenness 72 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: and sin. Instead, he meets us in it, in our 73 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: wilderness seasons to heal and transform our souls. Jesus could 74 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: have come to earth wielding his power and demanding allegiance. Instead, 75 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 1: he arrived as the Father's quote suffering servant, who, according 76 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: to Isaiah fifty three to two, had quote no stately 77 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: form or majesty or appearance that we should be attracted 78 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: to him end quote. He didn't come to impress. He 79 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: came to say in gentleness humility, as one who understands 80 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: our pain, because he endured it first rejection and slander 81 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: Verse three. He was despised and forsaken by men, a 82 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: man of sorrows, well acquainted with grief. When I read that, 83 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: my mind jumps to the garden of Bessemine. When he 84 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: was so broken, he told his disciples he was grieved 85 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: to the point of death. Kneeling before the Father that 86 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: sacred night, he knew all that awaited him. But more 87 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: than that, he knew why we were his, Why you 88 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: were his. Why he was crushed and pierced, his body 89 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: beaten and bloodied, a crown of thorns placed upon his head, 90 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: nails driven into his hands and feet. For you, he 91 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: bore the weight of your transgressions and inequities, every sin 92 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: you ever have and ever will commit, so that you 93 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: didn't have to bear the weight, So that you could 94 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: live emotionally and spiritually, free free to live, to love, 95 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: to heal, and most importantly, to remain connected to the 96 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: one who meets you in your wilderness, your dark knight 97 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 1: of the soul, and says, I see you, I'm here, 98 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: and I won't leave. I'm tempted to close this episode 99 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: with a reminder of his resurrection, the glorious day when 100 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: he rose victorious having conquered death and shame, but I'm 101 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: reminded that the garden and the cross came before victory, 102 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: and again he chose that for you and for me. Today, 103 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: I invite you to read Isaiah fifty three, focusing on 104 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: what the passage reveals regarding God's heart. As you do, 105 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,679 Speaker 1: ask him to help you sense his presence, to sense 106 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: is love and to help you find comfort and strength 107 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: in his embrace. And if you are in a difficult, 108 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: a painful season and you're wondering where God is, he 109 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: feels silent, he seems like he's not helping. You're crying 110 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: out for relief and nothing is changing. I encourage you 111 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: to listen to the Faith over Fear episode titled When 112 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: Life Feels Unfair How to Trust God when hardship hits. 113 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: That dropped last week March tenth on the Faith over 114 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: Fear podcast. And now let's pray. Holy Father, you are 115 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: so gracious, so loving, so merciful when you view us. 116 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: You view us with love, with mercy, with grace, with 117 00:07:55,120 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: compassion and your compassion moved you to action. You sent 118 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: your son into our mess, into our brokenness, into our 119 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: hurting world, to show us a way out to be 120 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: with us in our pain. You get it because you 121 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: watched your son suffer. You get it because you see 122 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: us suffer. You get it because you've been rejected, treated unfairly. 123 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: You know every emotion that we experience, and you invite 124 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: us to feel with you, to turn to you whatever's 125 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: going on with us internally and externally, and so help 126 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: us to do that. Lord, help us to turn to you. Continuously, 127 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: help us to sense your presence. Remind us of your love. 128 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: Speak words of love and comfort and strength into our 129 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: weary and heavy laden souls, or heavy burdened souls, whatever 130 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: is weighing down upon us. Remind us that you can 131 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 1: bear it, that you can carry it, and that you 132 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: invite us to give it to you. You are more 133 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: than capable of taking care of everything that concerns us, 134 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: and you are loving and faithful and attentive. You are 135 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: always leading us in your love toward your very best. 136 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: Thank you for sending your son when we're hurting. Remind 137 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: us of that precious gift. Remind us of his love 138 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: and his compassion that drove him to the cross. He 139 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: set his face like flint and let nothing deter him 140 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: from that sacrifice. We love you, and we praise you. 141 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: And it is in the name of Jesus Christ, our 142 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: victorious Savior, that we pray Amen.