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TUESDAY, December 9, 2025

Today’s Scriptures: Psalm 21; Isaiah 41:14-20; Romans 15:14-21

“Now, I will make of you a threshing-sledge, sharp, new, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff.” – Isaiah 41:15

This week is all about joy. It is difficult to feel joy when we witness so much pain in the world. Christians in Nigeria are being martyred by the thousands, slavery is widespread in the fast fashion industry, immigrants are exploited by both cartels and governments, and childhood hunger remains a serious issue in our own communities. Injustice seems to be everywhere, and we often feel powerless to make a difference. I lie awake at night, praying and asking God why there is so much pain and suffering in our world and wondering how we can find joy amid it all.

In the second half of this reading, God confirms he will provide for those who suffer, and that gives some sort of eschatological hope for sure. We are firm believers that in the resurrection, “He is making all things new” (Isa. 43:19, Rev. 21:5). There is definitely hope and peace there, but I struggle to have joy with only this distant promise of justice.

But Isaiah’s words here are what give me real joy. Joy at this very moment. He is prophesying that God will use us as a tool to refine this world, removing the chaff and bringing down the mountains, and to bring His kingdom here “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

The church has historically done this —from creating educational institutions that have lifted more people out of poverty than ever in human history to creating hospitals and health care systems that provide healing on a scale never before seen. The church has been busy bringing the Kingdom here and joy to people’s lives. We cannot stop. There is more work to do, and God is ready to use his church to bring joy.

 

For Prayerful Consideration:

  1. What issue, local or otherwise, keeps you up at night, and what is a tangible step you could take to help?
  2. Pray for God’s kingdom to come and for God to invigorate his church to fight injustice in this world.