Exalted or Exhausted - Dawn George

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:28

When my daughter was very young, she loved to sing along with the worship songs as we drove around town doing errands. One very popular song at the time went like this...."He is exalted, the King is exalted on High; I will praise Him! He is exalted, forever exalted and I will praise His name. He is exalted the King is exalted...”

On one occasion, she was singing along but as I listened, I realized she misunderstood a word. This was her version: "He is exhausted, the King is exhausted on High; I will praise Him. He is exhausted, forever exhausted and I will praise His name. He is exhausted the King is exhausted...” Initially, I had a good laugh at the play on words but, as I drove on, I could not help but wonder if her version was a more accurate reflection of my life. Did I exhaust God more than I exalt Him? Can I exhaust God?

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of the word exhaust is: to use up or consume completely; expend the whole of, tire, wear out. Can I ‘use up’ or ‘consume’ God’s mercy? Do I ‘weary’ Him with my lack of progress? Is He exhausted with my repeated failures and confessions in some areas? I know I exhaust myself repeating the same cycles of sin, only to find myself on my knees confessing yet again. I grow weary when I see little growth in an area I have been struggling with for an extended period of time.

While expressing my frustration and fear of wearying God to a friend, she lovingly pointed out to me that I could not out-sin God's grace. And that was when my heart was reminded and my spirit strengthened by the answer to my question. The answer is grace! Had grace not intervened, I would have continued to live in fear of the penalty of my sin and failure. But, praise be to God, grace did intervene…on the cross at Calvary! And, although I may "Remember my affliction and wandering, and my soul (may become) downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness."


Dawn George is a wife and homeschooling mother of four in Miami, Florida. Her love and passion for writing was fanned into flame by her love and passion for the Lord. She desires to share God’s redemptive love to all who thirst for living water. She openly and passionately shares her 9 year old son’s battle against cancer and how it has affected their family through her writing at www.georgefamilyblog.com. Visit their site to see God’s redemption at work and on display through suffering according to His will.
Read Dawn's devotions.

In Due Time - Dawn George

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." 1 Peter 5:6-7

If I could just put the period in the above verse after lift you up it would sound so much better. Instead, the words in due time glare back at me from the page, reminding me that God's perception of time is far different than mine. His does not depend on the clock as the moments tick by, or on my calendar as I cross off another day, but on His plan to work all things according to His purpose for my life.

I find that the instant I humble myself under His mighty hand, I expect relief immediately. "I cooperated, Lord; I did my part; how long must I wait?" I cry. And His Word stares back at me…in due time.

The time spent waiting can often be the most difficult part of the lesson. The humbling comes as a welcome relief to my pride. The forgiveness and restoration that follow come as refreshing mercy washing over me, but the waiting to be lifted up in due time—can be torture.

When I consider that God is the author of time, and He will not waste one moment of a life humbled before Him, regardless of how much of it may have been wasted, only then do I begin to change my focus and see the time spent waiting as time spent preparing. Waiting on God's timing allows me to develop spiritual disciplines that are necessary when the season of lifting up finally comes. I learn to trust Him during the time spent under His mighty hand. I learn to listen more closely and carefully to His still small voice. And that voice reminds me that as I wait, "The Lord waits...Blessed are all those who wait for Him." (Isaiah 30:18)

He will lift you up, in due time!

Dawn George is a wife and homeschooling mother of four in Miami, Florida. Her love and passion for writing was fanned into flame by her love and passion for the Lord. She desires to share God’s redemptive love to all who thirst for living water. She openly and passionately shares her 9 year old son’s heart wrenching battle against cancer through her writing at www.georgefamilyblog.com. Visit their site to see God’s redemption at work and on display through suffering according to His will.