Double for Your Trouble
"Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever" (Isaiah 61:7, The Message).
When this scripture was written, God's people were going through a very difficult time. They were being held captive against their will and mistreated by other nations. God sent this word to encourage them and give them hope for their future. To make a really long story short, in the end, God was faithful to His Word. He restored double to His people and filled them with everlasting joy.
Maybe your circumstances aren't quite like what they were going through, but every person goes through disappointments, setbacks, and things that don't seem to make sense. Even when you are doing all the right things, sometimes the wrong thing happens anyway. It's easy to get discouraged and think, "Why did this happen to me?" "Why did my loved one not make it?" "Why did this person treat me wrong?" "Why did I get laid off?" I had a man tell me that he lost his job after many years with his former company. He just didn't understand it. He said, "I gave them my best. I was always on time; I was loyal—it's just not fair." We have to understand that even when life is not fair, God is always fair. He is always with us in our darkest hour, and He is working behind the scenes to deliver us and restore hope for our future. That disappointment is not the end; your life doesn't stop because of one setback. No, God has an amazing future in store for you if you'll take Him by the hand and let Him lead you to a place of safety and rest.
Just like God's Word brought encouragement to the Israelites so many years ago, let this word bring encouragement to you, too because God is working on your behalf. He wants to give you double for your trouble! You may be thinking you've wasted years of your life in the wrong career or associating with the wrong people, but God is saying, "I can restore those years." You may think that it's been too long, you've been through too much, and you're never going to see those new seasons of increase, but God can make up for that lost time. Why don't you be bold and ask Him to give you back every opportunity that you've missed? He may not always do it in the way you expect, but open your heart and mind to the possibilities. Be ready to embrace the opportunities God will bring across your path. When God brings restoration, He's not just going to repay you for every wrong done, He's going to go above and beyond and make things even better than they were before.
If you are facing challenges today or going through a time of adversity, remember, it's always darkest just before the dawn appears. Your days are destined to shine brighter because God is faithful. Trust that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf and for your good! As you stay in faith and are obedient to His Word, you'll receive double for your trouble and see His promises come to pass!
When this scripture was written, God's people were going through a very difficult time. They were being held captive against their will and mistreated by other nations. God sent this word to encourage them and give them hope for their future. To make a really long story short, in the end, God was faithful to His Word. He restored double to His people and filled them with everlasting joy.
Maybe your circumstances aren't quite like what they were going through, but every person goes through disappointments, setbacks, and things that don't seem to make sense. Even when you are doing all the right things, sometimes the wrong thing happens anyway. It's easy to get discouraged and think, "Why did this happen to me?" "Why did my loved one not make it?" "Why did this person treat me wrong?" "Why did I get laid off?" I had a man tell me that he lost his job after many years with his former company. He just didn't understand it. He said, "I gave them my best. I was always on time; I was loyal—it's just not fair." We have to understand that even when life is not fair, God is always fair. He is always with us in our darkest hour, and He is working behind the scenes to deliver us and restore hope for our future. That disappointment is not the end; your life doesn't stop because of one setback. No, God has an amazing future in store for you if you'll take Him by the hand and let Him lead you to a place of safety and rest.
Just like God's Word brought encouragement to the Israelites so many years ago, let this word bring encouragement to you, too because God is working on your behalf. He wants to give you double for your trouble! You may be thinking you've wasted years of your life in the wrong career or associating with the wrong people, but God is saying, "I can restore those years." You may think that it's been too long, you've been through too much, and you're never going to see those new seasons of increase, but God can make up for that lost time. Why don't you be bold and ask Him to give you back every opportunity that you've missed? He may not always do it in the way you expect, but open your heart and mind to the possibilities. Be ready to embrace the opportunities God will bring across your path. When God brings restoration, He's not just going to repay you for every wrong done, He's going to go above and beyond and make things even better than they were before.
If you are facing challenges today or going through a time of adversity, remember, it's always darkest just before the dawn appears. Your days are destined to shine brighter because God is faithful. Trust that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf and for your good! As you stay in faith and are obedient to His Word, you'll receive double for your trouble and see His promises come to pass!