About 10 years ago I directed a children’s musical that used this scripture in its lyrics and I have turned to it many times for comfort since then. The withering grass and fading flowers always made me think of literal things--the most stunning beauty can’t protect a flower from fading; even though grass is ubiquitous, it withers in the winter or can be uprooted. But God’s Word lasts forever. Yay!
As I’ve matured, I’ve read this verse with a little more context. In the preceding verses it says,
“All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.” (Is 40:6-7 ESV)
Well, that’s less poetic and more blunt, huh? I’m temporary grass? Ouch.
If I, a whole person, am temporary on this earth, what else is? Well, everything. That means the flowers and grass, sure. But also my possessions, relationships, job, house, pets, my husband and my kids, money, security.
Well, now I’m just having an existential crisis about the temporal nature of everything I hold dear. (kidding...mostly)
But you know what else is temporary? My struggles, vices, idols, broken hearts, disappointments, insecurities, failures, sin. Now we’re talking!
The cap on verse 8 says: “...but the word of our God will stand forever”. That means HE lasts forever. That means his PROMISES last forever. His FORGIVENESS is offered eternally. His GRACE lasts forever. This whole section is prophesying the coming of Jesus and with him, the plan for redemption once for all.
Let’s apply an even wider context to this verse, shall we? Isaiah 40 starts out with the call from God to “Comfort my people” and “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem”. Verse 2 announces to God’s people that their “warfare has ended” (peace!) and her “iniquity is pardoned” (forgiveness for sin!). The next--quite long--section after v8 is all about the greatness of God.
First in his tenderness and care:
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (v 11)
And then how he is unfathomable, wise, incomparable, and powerful. (see v12-31).
The chapter wraps up with a promise most of us know at least part of well. I’ll back it up a couple verses and let it speak for itself (Is. 40:27-31 from NLT):
“O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
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.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
And young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.”
We humans think of ourselves as the “main character” of our stories. Everything in life is happening to me or because of me. I succeed or fail by my own power. I tell myself that this makes me independent. Some of us tell ourselves that God will be more pleased if we work ourselves to the bone. Some of us believe that working hard at good things is how we get to Heaven. But what does this narrow world view lead to? For me, those methods of thought only lead to stress, pressure, anxiety, depression, frustration, anger, burnout.
We forget that the world is wide and God is great and that HE is the main character of THE STORY. The Story where HE made a way to come directly to him. The Story where HE provides the opposite of all our striving: rest, freedom, peace, joy, gentleness, strength, endurance. The Story where even though he is unfathomable and I am less than dust, he doesn’t just see me, but loves me enough to guide me, hold me to himself, and give me power and strength that won’t run out because it’s not coming from inside me. Where I, and the rest of everything, can be redeemed through accepting a gift instead of brute work. As my favorite children’s Bible puts it, The Story is the one where he is making “all the sad things come untrue”.
So I can accept my status as temporary. Because I serve an Everlasting Father with a never-ending love.
