‘Cheer Up; The Storm Will Soon Be Over!”

“Cheer Up; The Storm Will Soon Be Over!”(Is.54:7-10).
“‘For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,’ says the LORD your Redeemer. ‘To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
Today’s pericope are words of comfort and compassion to the exiles of the Babylonian captivity. The exile lasted for not less than fifty eight years. Yet the LORD says, “For a brief moment, I abandoned you…” The question is, “How brief is a brief moment according to the LORD?” Until we learn to appreciate time as God’s kairos – the right time – we may continue to consider a brief moment of hardship as very long, and a long moment of contentment as very brief.
The psalmist reminds us that “a thousand years” in the LORD’S “sight are like yesterday that has just gone by…”(Ps.90:4). Peter brings this up as a reminder: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”(II Pt.3:8).
Therefore, my friend, when the storms of life come with life-threatening force, remain calm and be faithful to the covenant LORD. “Tough times never last, but tough people do!”
Storms do not blow for ever; no matter how long it takes. It may seem long to you, but the LORD abandons only for a moment, and with deep compassion, he will bring you back.
In a surge of anger, the LORD may hide his face from you, but with everlasting kindness, he will have compassion on you.
Christ felt the same way when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yet, we know that God did not forsake him.
The LORD is bringing to us this blessed assurance: “My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the the LORD who has compassion on you.”
What the LORD expects of us is to keep our own side of the covenant of peace through obedient submission.
My friend, I don’t know what storm you are in now, and I can’t imagine its intensity, but here is your comfort: “Cheer up; the storm will soon be over!”
Prayer of the day and week: Heavenly Father, thank you for the assurance of your constant unfailing love and covenant of peace. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
16/03/2026.