“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8.

The human mind and heart naturally seek satisfaction in all kinds of worldly devices and things that appear to be self-gratifying, yet deep down in the soul, there is a longing that absolutely nothing can satisfy like the sweet communion with our Creator God. He is the very air that we breathe, our sustainer, keeper, and the very lover of our souls. “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3.

In Isaiah chapter sixty-four, the prophet gives a marvelous account of Israel’s cry for repentance, deliverance, and restored communion with the Lord. They graciously called on God to remember His covenant relationship with them and show His mighty power for all men to see. They had once again sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But hasn’t this been the case since Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? Romans 3:23 reminds us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

As horrific as His covenant people’s sins were, they longed for a renewed mind, heart, and relationship with Jehovah…they knew how to turn to God in prayer! “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8.

We are no different today…just as the children of Israel pleaded before God, we must also admit “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” God hates sin, but His grace and mercy will succor, love, and restore the one who humbles Himself before His throne of grace for forgiveness.

We can rest in the faithfulness of God, who will never fail His everlasting covenant with His beloved children. His relationship with all who accept Him as Lord and Savior is sealed forever, and no one can take that away! “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28.

We can easily fall out of fellowship with God when we go contrary to His will. So often, that tugging and longing for closeness is the Holy Spirit’s way of moving in our hearts to get right with God. He lovingly reproves us of sin, corrects us, and shows us the way to go. The question is, will we follow where He leads?

God chastises those whom He loves, so when we go through the fire of life, it is not to destroy us, but to refine us and bring us, as Job 23:10 states, forth as gold: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” 

Therefore, regardless of the circumstances we may be encountering in life, our Father, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, is able to succor and deliver us according to His divine providence now and forever.

If your heart is longing for God today, draw near to Him, and He will comfort and satisfy your longing soul!

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

By the pow’r of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

And my will be lost in Thine.

May God’s blessings and amazing grace be with all of us.