June 1st Devotion

Set Your Face like a Flint
by Anne Peterson

"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame." - Isaiah 50:7

One Christmas, our Bible teacher gave each of us a specially chosen verse. Mine was Isaiah 50:7. Lois knew me. She knew coming from an abusive home, I wore shame like a well-fitted sweater. Our father was authoritarian. We were not cherished, we were physically abused.

Lois also taught us that we needed to grow in our faith for our journeys ahead. There were truths I would unpack even years after Lois slipped into heaven to be with the one she served, both as a missionary with her husband, Don, and as a Bible teacher to a bunch of us who met weekly in their home. How would I ever make it in the real world, outside of that fellowship?

… the Sovereign Lord helps me…
After we trust in Christ, we still need the Lord’s help. God is sovereign. He is the one who possesses ultimate power. Little by little, I learned about that power. How it was unparalleled. How no one ever had, nor ever would have power like God’s power. I learned God’s salvation was not the only thing He provided for us. God became the father I needed. One who would help me when I turned to Him.

First, God showed me that I did need His help. I want to confess I used to be a controller. It’s something I learned growing up in a house that lacked boundaries and tenderness. After we lost our mother, when I was in my teens, I decided I would have to look out for myself. But I was unequipped. But being sovereign, God knew that. He was there to help me grow up in faith, and learn to trust Him. But first, I needed to get rid of something.

…I will not be disgraced
One thing I lacked was self confidence. God showed me I could give Him the shame I had carried. God showed me I was valued because He created me. He loved me and wanted me to grow up in that love, and to trust Him for everything I needed because He is our sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5). And just as David learned how to rely on God’s strength, God taught me the same thing. Instead of carrying shame as I had for years, God told me in His Word what He thought of me as His daughter.

I started learning how to trust God and His unfailing love. As a child, we attended Awana clubs where seeds were planted about Jesus. But now that I knew Him personally, God would grow me up in Him. So what was first?

I set my face like flint…
I would have to learn determination, perseverance, and commitment. My trials were my training ground. I learned to fix my eyes on the Lord. For when we trust God alone, that pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Sometimes we read scripture, but we have our own understanding of it. Like when Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Jesus spoke of how He is the vine and we are the branches who totally rely on Him. But we act as if without Him we can do less, almost as if God needs our help. And though I see how silly that sounds, why else will I refuse to let go as God works?

Learning to let go is difficult, but when we actually do, we see that God will ultimately come through for us. And He continues to do that over and over. The answers God provides may look different than what we prayed for, but God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). And what is another byproduct of my trusting God?

I will not be put to shame…
God comes through for us. We’re not just left with our needs unmet. It reminds me of the story of a little girl who stood up to recite the 23rd Psalm, and she said, “The Lord is my shepherd and that’s all I want.”

God is Jehovah Jireh - the Lord who provides. He’ll always come through for us. We need to learn how to wait on His timing. And God will teach us how to wait well.