https://odb.org/2025/01/02/a-promise-beyond-the-ruins
Isaiah 51: The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
Sometimes, we ask ourselves why certain events happen? Why do natural disasters continue to occur in the world, bringing destruction and misery to many, including loss of life? In fact, some question why God didn’t intervene to prevent such calamities and protect human life and property? Often, if we look carefully, it is mankind who chose to build civilisations close to where trade and commerce thrive, which are usually along coastal lines that are exposed to the open seas. Or along deltas of major rivers which habitually flood its banks. The flooding brings fertility to the soil, and that attracts human economic activities. Common traits of the Irrawady and Mekong basins, for example.
But as believers, we sometimes question even deeper. Why God didn’t save His people? Why did He allow road accidents to occur? Or household fire or mass murders of church congregations? Or why allow us to go through tough times when we are living in the centre of His will? There are no easy answers here. But as history has shown in His interactions with Zion, He allowed Israel to be overrun for her sins and transgressions, but He never let them remain desolate and transgressed. He always returns to turn her deserts into Eden, her wastelands into the garden of the LORD where joy and gladness, thanksgiving, and singing will be found! That’s His promise! He will turn our disasters, whether spiritual or natural, into peace and joy. Our dry bones into living beings with breath. Our dead spiritual lives into thriving and strong spiritual forces to wage war in the unseen realm!
Let our life disasters and past mistakes be annals of history and let us move forward to conquer new lands as God opens up new opportunities for us, whether at work or in ministry, as long as the Lord leads the way! Let us be freed from the shackles of sin and our past baggage and move forward in the Lord! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 