Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. Psalm 62:5.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Hebrews 13:20-21.

In the uncertainty of the times we are living in, times that have happened repeatedly throughout the history of mankind choosing to live apart from Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit, we can read our chapter, Isaiah 60, and remember God is Sovereign and faithful…and working always for our good in Him. And the difference in His work and ours is stark! Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. v. 1-3. Isaiah is talking about the future kingdom of God and of Zion, the City of the Lord. Lift up your eyes and look about you: all assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come…Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations – their kings led in triumphal procession…The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel…Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations…I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory…Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of My hands, for the display of My splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly. v. 4-5, 10-11, 14, 15, 17-19, 21-22.

God is doing a good work always. It takes effort for us to be still and trust God. It takes His work in us to know His peace anchoring our spirit to Him who loves us and is working always for our good. And what is the good work He is doing within us? He is showing us a better way and it is with Him. Each journey will be different because each one of us is different by design. God is not a God of carbon copies or robots obeying without thought or care. And the good news is…I am the Lord…in its time I will do this swiftly! Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17. When we witness the despairing work of this broken world, remember our Creator God is at His work in us – and He is our hope!