2023

Rise Up

Theme Verse

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. 29 He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. 30 Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. 31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they RISE UP as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired. - Isaiah 40:28-31

The prophecies of Isaiah are hard to read. They are full of the impending wrath God is set to pour out on His people because of their sins. Yet mercy is available if they will only humble themselves and truly repent of their ways; but they are unwilling. In Isaiah’s day times were hard and the enemies of Judah were a constant threat, and all the prophets of the Lord were warning of even greater suffering ahead. The people undoubtably were filled with anxiety, fear, and hopelessness. So, God speaks to Isaiah and tells him, “Comfort, comfort my people” (Isa 40:1). His message of comfort is the greatness of the God of who called them to be His people and then He makes a promise for those who wait for the Lord. Depression, stress, anxiety, fear, hopelessness – these are words we are hearing from the lips of campers more and more these days. A quick glance at the news headlines or a social media feed will confirm this is not unique to our campers. We tend to believe that if we grow in understanding about the universe and we push technology to places that were only fictionalized in the past, then we will be content and full of optimism for the future. However, the inverse has proven to be true. Like the nation of Israel in Isaiah’s day we are in desperate need of comfort and hope, but when we look inward instead of upward our anxiety only increases. The promise is for those who wait for the Lord’s help. Amid hardship, when we grow tired and weary, when we stumble and fall; it is we who hope in the Lord who will RISE UP!