We musn’t mistake God for some overextended father figure. One busy with putting bread on the table. One who tires, errors, requires food for strength, rest from toil, shelter from the storm. Do not assume His patience for passiveness, His tolerance for acceptance, His timing for limitedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conceit can make us think prosperity a thumbs up from God. As if strength in one’s legs is what the Lord is building. On the contrary. Faith<\/em><\/strong>is the muscle the Father is working. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I consider Isaiah\u2014one of the greatest preachers\u2014powerless to pry open the blind eyes and deaf ears of God’s people\u2014I would guess him a man unsettled in his head. A man feeling quite the failure. Wondering if his work was a waste of time. But what do we find? “My eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” <\/em>We behold a man who believes… not in his numbers, his fitness, his success stories\u2014but in Jesus<\/em><\/strong>. Despite his not earning popularity with the people\u2014Isaiah is overjoyed beyond belief at the sight of his Savior<\/em><\/strong>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Whom shall I send?” questioned the voice that shakes the foundations of the earth. And Isaiah’s deep anguish is soothed in an instant,<\/em> “Here I am! Send me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Holy of Holy’s redeeming plan is everything and all our hearts could ever want. The moment the angel touched our lips\u2014wiped away our guilt, atoned for our sin\u2014woe is me! <\/em>We’ve seen many things throughout our lives\u2014but all Solomon’s gold doesn’t come close to that moment in time.<\/em> The hour the Lord ruined us, knocked us right off our high horse, pulled us through the throat of that deep dark fish. And we knew… I’ll never be the same again. <\/em>We got a glimpse of Heaven, you guys!<\/em><\/strong> A glance without sin and suffering. A peek with no pain, or tears, or sorrow.<\/strong> “Here I am! Take me!” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Every time we set our eyes on Jesus, He frees us. <\/em>As if night were over and the glory of Lord shone all around us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We musn’t mistake God for some overextended father figure. One busy with putting bread on the table. One who tires, errors, requires food for strength, rest from toil, shelter from the storm. Do not assume His patience for passiveness, His tolerance for acceptance, His timing for limitedness. Conceit can make us think prosperity a thumbs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143625079,"featured_media":9442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[54418],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bible"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pacmrQ-2s8","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20270,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=20270","url_meta":{"origin":9432,"position":0},"title":"Where Does Joy Come From?","author":"Jo Alo","date":"August 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Isaiah 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. The culture would have us believe there is no personal creator, there is no absolute morality, that there is really no absolute truth. The forces of evil ploy that we would continue in bondage to fear and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Bible"","block_context":{"text":"The Bible","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=54418"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty-images-kqr1K7ASnGY-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty-images-kqr1K7ASnGY-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty-images-kqr1K7ASnGY-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty-images-kqr1K7ASnGY-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty-images-kqr1K7ASnGY-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9731,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=9731","url_meta":{"origin":9432,"position":1},"title":"Fear & How It’s Meant To Heal Not Hurt","author":"Jo Alo","date":"April 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"What do you fear? Cancer, bankruptcy, public humiliation? The true God who pulled us from the dirt of nothingness says, in Isaiah 10:24-25, \"Be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Bible"","block_context":{"text":"The Bible","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=54418"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/heather-ford-tinbs_bjkxa-unsplash-1.jpeg?fit=887%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/heather-ford-tinbs_bjkxa-unsplash-1.jpeg?fit=887%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/heather-ford-tinbs_bjkxa-unsplash-1.jpeg?fit=887%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/heather-ford-tinbs_bjkxa-unsplash-1.jpeg?fit=887%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18169,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=18169","url_meta":{"origin":9432,"position":2},"title":"When Therapy Sounds More Like Sorcery","author":"Jo Alo","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm noticing in Christian circles how psychology is bordering dangerously close to sorcery. What I mean is\u2014we're more fascinated with new, innovative discoveries with the brain, than with studying \"the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sorcery"","block_context":{"text":"Sorcery","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=233394"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kateryna-hliznitsova-_oadi5hexs4-unsplash-e1774021305537.jpg?fit=1085%2C724&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kateryna-hliznitsova-_oadi5hexs4-unsplash-e1774021305537.jpg?fit=1085%2C724&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kateryna-hliznitsova-_oadi5hexs4-unsplash-e1774021305537.jpg?fit=1085%2C724&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kateryna-hliznitsova-_oadi5hexs4-unsplash-e1774021305537.jpg?fit=1085%2C724&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kateryna-hliznitsova-_oadi5hexs4-unsplash-e1774021305537.jpg?fit=1085%2C724&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2451,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=2451","url_meta":{"origin":9432,"position":3},"title":"God’s Unwavering Regard For Women","author":"Jo Alo","date":"June 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Women have to ask for what they deserve. Is it fair?\u00a0No...it's just a fact. Achsah grew up learning her worth. She was the daughter of Caleb, a just man who feared the Lord and fiercely followed God\u2019s commands. Caleb arranged for her to marry the one man who would capture\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Women"","block_context":{"text":"Women","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=598"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17395,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=17395","url_meta":{"origin":9432,"position":4},"title":"How Christmastime is Really About The End of Time","author":"Jo Alo","date":"December 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever wanted to write your story? I hear that phrase a lot: \"your story\". But there's so much more to us than one story, one book, one cover. We're more than 21 chapters, 50,000 words. We're not merely time, and space, and word count. The blood of Christ\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Bible"","block_context":{"text":"The Bible","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=54418"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/david-and-laura-BEARS.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/david-and-laura-BEARS.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/david-and-laura-BEARS.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/david-and-laura-BEARS.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/david-and-laura-BEARS.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8177,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=8177","url_meta":{"origin":9432,"position":5},"title":"“My whole heart.” Psalm 9:1","author":"Jo Alo","date":"March 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This is what the Lord Jesus Christ requires. The whole kit & caboodle. He's an all or nothing Savior. And aren't we grateful? Coming because He desired that none should perish. Went to the cross so He could bear every sin. His beauty running through all creation\u2014revealing Himself to each\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "adult kids"","block_context":{"text":"adult kids","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=10352246"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/getty-images-oyxsi_uyWUk-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/getty-images-oyxsi_uyWUk-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/getty-images-oyxsi_uyWUk-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/getty-images-oyxsi_uyWUk-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/getty-images-oyxsi_uyWUk-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img_0400-2.jpeg?fit=2483%2C2130&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/143625079"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9432"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19383,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9432\/revisions\/19383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}