When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2.

If we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:25 NKJV.

I awoke very early this morning and knew I wouldn’t be able to return to sleep. I realized my worries for family are because I can’t see what is ahead for them and my imagination for their good fails me. I let fear drive my worries. And God helped me see my need is to trust Him for the good He will bring. Hope. Trust. Know. His will is for their good. And what struck me in our chapter, Ezekiel 36, is when Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, said: “I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned My holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave His land.’ I had concern for My holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone…I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.” v. 19-21, 23. Do we forget God’s holiness? Do we profane Him when we forget Him?

Last Sunday on Zoom we watched the episode of The Chosen where the Roman centurion had greater faith than all of Israel. He understood authority as a Roman centurion would. He knew that Jesus didn’t even need to come into his home for his servant to be healed. Jesus only had to say the word…Luke 7:1-10. Do we know? Can we know with His help? Do we trust Him for all that is needed?

And back to our chapter…“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.’” v. 22-23. The nations will know. Have not all the nations profaned God’s holy name? If you have any awareness or worry for your families or for your nations, remember God is holy. “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be My people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness…Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and your detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!…Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’” v. 24-29, 31-32, 36.

As you turn to God and journey with Him helping you, you will begin to appreciate how different are Creator God’s ways from the ways of the nations and the people living in them. And you will begin to experience deep sorrow for the ways of this world. That sorrow is needed for it is the beginning of God’s wisdom. That wisdom leads us to trust the one who knows and can help us trust Him for all things. Creator God is Holy. We are not. Trust Him for His holiness and let His love begin His work in you. Not the decrees and laws of the nations. Not hearts of stone. A new heart and God’s Spirit within us that what has been desolate and destroyed will be rebuilt by Creator God for our good in Him for His Holy Name. Ask Him for the vision to hope and see and know His will is Good!