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What do you do when you know what the Lord has promised, but it hasn’t seemed to work its way out in the ways you thought it might? After all, you have prayed about it, read scriptures that support or align with your prayers, yet the resolution isn’t in sight. I suspect that those living in exile in Babylon while the decades mounted up felt similarly.

Back in Isaiah 40, the promise to the exiles was that they would not grow weary but rather mount up with wings as eagles and soar. But forty, fifty, sixty years into exile, those wings felt clipped. Instead of soaring, they were wondering if there was any hope. In the last few chapters of Isaiah, the prophet reaffirmed that God would indeed complete the work he promised.

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.”

Isaiah spoke clearly that he would not keep silent until God had completed his work of renewal and restoration. The exiles would see their homeland and the temple rebuilt. But more than that, God’s promise of the renewal and restoration of all things on earth would one day resolve through Christ and through his bride, the church.

So what is our role in all of this? First, it is to trust firmly in the promises of God. We have a much broader view of time than our ancient, exiled forefathers. We know that God did send his son who did die for the sins of humanity and began the work of restoring our brokenness. We live in the new covenant relationship that Jesus established, and we are a part of the body of Christ that continues to grow and fulfill the ancient prophecies of God. We have the Old and New Testament scriptures to guide us. And we have the Holy Spirit living inside us as we take our place in God’s grand plan.

Second, we pray. Hear the words of Isaiah in verses 6 and 7:

“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.”

We are called to continue our prayers day and night until all that God has promised is fulfilled.

Finally, have hope and faith that we will enjoy the fruit of our labors. Verse 8 says that God has sworn by his right hand and his mighty arm that he will deliver, and we will see his righteousness and his justice prevail. It may not be today, but as we align ourselves with the will of God, we will experience everything that God has promised.

Today, Father, we thank you for the encouragement we find in your promises from Isaiah 63. We bring our will in alignment with yours and pray that your plans will be accomplished just as you said they would. We want your will and not ours to be done on earth as it is in heaven. You have called us holy people and the redeemed of the Lord. We know that we have done nothing to earn or deserve those titles or roles, but we commit to wearing them as your sons and daughters. Thank you for your promise that we will never be forsaken but will experience your flourishing in due time. In Jesus’ name, amen.