How to Put God First When Life Feels Absolutely Overwhelming ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

As we continue looking at the judgements of God prophesied in Isaiah to Judah, Israel, and all the surrounding nations we should stop and think. Why did it have to be this way? What happened, making this necessary? And can we avoid it? When life feels overwhelming, how do we put God first. Only in Him is peace, joy, hope, and victory maintained when the world around us is driving us to despair. What had gone wrong for Israel and Judah that we can learn about? And how did their errors affect all the nations surrounding them? How much do our responses affect all those around us? Can we really fake it until we make it? Or are there ways to put God First thus reversing the overwhelming feelings we may have.

This all goes back to the beginning, when Adam sinned and we are now born with these natures that cause us to look away from God. Too often we are concerned with our own feelings and not that of God. What can we get from Him? How can we just do this ourselves to feel more powerful within our own world? Yet, God has a better plan amid our whirling world of chaos.

He sometimes even allows our overwhelming circumstances to bring our eyes back into focus on Him. Not out of cruelty, but out of love. He knows our only true source of abundant joy, is the Glorious King of the Universe, Himself. Therefore, He will do whatever it takes so we put God First in our life. Thereby, providing us with Life Abundant and overflowing. So, as we study this section of Isaiah, keep your eyes open to discover how to Put God First.

Proclamation Against Syria and Israel

The burden against Damascus.

“Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city,

And it will be a ruinous heap.

The cities of Aroer are forsaken;

They will be for flocks

Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid.

The fortress also will cease from Ephraim,

The kingdom from Damascus,

And the remnant of Syria;

They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,”

Says the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 17: 1-3

The 10 tribes of Israel split from the 2 Southern tribes of Judah when Rehoboam (one of Solomon’s sons) attempted to place harsher taxes and rules over the people. 10 tribes then followed Jeroboam (another son of Solomon), thus splitting the kingdom. Thus, the greed and desire for power of Rehoboam began the split. However, Jeroboam made a major error. To avoid the people traveling to Jerusalem to sacrifice, he set up a separate temple in which he placed a Golden Calf.

Then began the era in which Israel (also called Ephraim) the northern tribe began a series of bad kings. Judah had her share of bad kings as well. However, Judah did intermittently have some good kings that would turn their eyes back on God. Yet, that would only last for a brief time. At this point in Isaiah, the northern tribe had joined with Syria to attempt to conquer Judah to increase forces. Their goal being to protect themselves against Assyria. Yet, not relying on God as their source. Idol worship plagued both kingdoms at this point.

Put God First

This was their major sin. Neither the northern tribes nor the southern tribes put God First. Both relied on themselves to perform and to win against the enemies. In doing so, both pulled in and joined with other allies. Israel with Syria and Judah with Assyria. To make matters worse, they also joined in the worship of the idolatrous practices of those whom they adjoined with. Instead of teaching their neighbors to worship the one true God, they forsook God. Or at least He became an afterthought or a “get out of jail free card”. As the chosen nation, they believed God would always rescue them. Wanting Him to do things their way. As Christians do we do that as well?

So, lets recap. To put God first we must:

Remember that God is Sovereign

Feast on the truth that it is Grace that Saved us, not anything we did

Develop an attitude of Gratitude because of His Grace

Hold fast to a reverent, awe-struck fear of Almighty God, remembering His Glorious Splendor.

Lay aside our desire for and hold on to pride in ourselves. What we think we have accomplished in life and for God.

Cast aside those “idols” that overtake us so easily. Money, “likes”, clicks, people’s approval, job, etc.

Take the time to seek God first every morning, every day.

Back to the Story of Damascus and Israel

Well Damascus is known as one of the most ancient of cities. It is still present and the capital of Syria. This despite a very tumultuous history. Therefore, did God fail in this prophesy? A thousand times no. Indeed, as history reveals as well as the Bible itself, this did happen.

“Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to wage war on Jerusalem, and they besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him. At that time Rezin the king of Syria recovered Elath for Syria and drove the men of Judah from Elath, and the Edomites came to Elath, where they dwell to this day. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, ‘I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.’ Ahaz also took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasures of the king’s house and sent a present to the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria listened to him. The king of Assyria marched up against Damascus and took it, carrying its people captive to Kir, and he killed Rezin” 2 Kings 16: 5-9 ESV

Damascus was rebuilt years later. After multiple points in history of destruction, it has proven one of the most resilient cities at re-establishing itself. Thus, the final destruction is yet in the future. Indeed, some believe the Anti-Christ may come from Damascus or at least Syria. God is not done yet. Still, He is calling a remnant of believers from Syria as well who will put God First.

As Damascus Falls, so Does Israel at that Time

“In that day it shall come to pass

That the glory of Jacob will wane,

And the fatness of his flesh grow lean.

It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain,

And reaps the heads with his arm;

It shall be as he who gathers heads of grain

In the Valley of Rephaim.

Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it,

Like the shaking of an olive tree,

Two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough,

Four or five in its most fruitful branches,”

Says the Lord God of Israel. Isaiah 17: 4-6 NKJV

There will be a remnant left as always, but life will be hard.

God’s Goal? To Put God First

In that day a man will look to his Maker,

And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel.

He will not look to the altars,

The work of his hands;

He will not respect what his fingers have made,

Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars. Isaiah 17: 7-8 NKJV

There will come the day when all turn their eyes back to God. They will forsake the idolatrous altars. Nor will they look anymore at the work of their own hands. They will finally put God first. Why does God put His Glory as the most important thing? After all, does not the creator of all the universe know what creation and the creatures most need? We were made to experience His glory, His love, and His joy. Without these, we are always with that sensation of incompleteness. Often, we fail to recognize what it is that we truly desire and confuse it with many other things. In the case of Syria and Israel, they had forsaken God. Hence, their upcoming take over by Assyria.

In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough

And an uppermost branch,

Which they left because of the children of Israel;

And there will be desolation.

Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation,

And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold,

Therefore you will plant pleasant plants

And set out foreign seedlings;

In the day you will make your plant to grow,

And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish;

But the harvest will be a heap of ruins

In the day of grief and desperate sorrow. Isaiah 17:9-11 NKJV

Neither will Assyria be left with its Plunder

Even though God allowed the arrogance of Assyria to punish Syria and Israel, they are not without guilt. They too will face judgement.

Woe to the multitude of many people

Who make a noise like the roar of the seas,

And to the rushing of nations

That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters;

But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away,

And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind,

Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Then behold, at eventide, trouble!

And before the morning, he is no more.

This is the portion of those who plunder us,

And the lot of those who rob us. Isaiah 17: 12-14 NKJV

So, When Life Feels Absolutely Overwhelming

As it does most of the time anymore, look up and put God first. We are living in the end times, I do believe. We were never promised that this broken world would be our comfort zone. But we were promised that God would be our source of peace and joy. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. So, stop listening to all the news and people around you that try to tear your spirits down. Instead, put God first. Cling to His Word. And then say, “You will not steal my joy today.” Dwelling continually as in His presence. He has given us “every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Jesus Christ”. Therefore, we have every tool needed to win in the battles of spiritual warfare.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. I urge you to seek Him today.

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Check out my other website about the inspiration behind each song at Effie Darlene Barba, Songwriter and Poet

Do You Really Trust God’s Justice and Mercy Today?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. That is except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR. Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Common English Bible (CEB)

Photo taken by Effie Darlene Barba