A Call to Praise God in All Circumstances
In perfect faithfulness, you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. – Isaiah 25:1
Isaiah 25:1-5
O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.
But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O LORD, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign nations. As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled.
The Shift to Positive Psychology
For many years, therapists focused on diagnosing and treating patients’ issues. They identified mental health problems and addressed symptoms, often emphasizing what was wrong rather than what could be improved. In 1998, this changed with the introduction of Positive Psychology by Dr. Martin Seligman and Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
Positive Psychology shifted a traditional problem-focused model to a strengths-based approach that emphasizes cultivating positive emotions, building resilience, and enhancing personal growth and well-being. This innovative method promotes transformation and positive outcomes by leveraging inherent strengths and potential. Positive Psychology helps people thrive instead of just survive (Gable & Haidt, 2005).
The Father’s Timeless Interventions
Long before Positive Psychology emerged, God used positively focused interventions, leading to repentance and transformation. His plans, established in eternity past, are flawless and comprehensive. He is working out His eternal plan and the lives of each child of the King. Unlike humans, God is never taken by surprise or unprepared by events on Earth.
Isaiah praises the Father’s extraordinary interventions, honoring His sovereignty and the realization of His eternal plans.
Isaiah 25:1-3:
“O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.
You turn mighty cities into heaps of ruins. Cities with strong walls are turned to rubble. Beautiful palaces in distant lands disappear and will never be rebuilt.
Therefore, strong nations will declare your glory; ruthless nations will fear you.”
The Wonder of God’s Works
The Hebrew word pele, translated as “wonderful things” in Isaiah 25:1, conveys a sense of “awe and wonder.” It refers to “actions that are beyond human ability and come from God.” This same word is used in the messianic title pele yaats, “Wonderful Counselor.”
Isaiah 9:6: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The Messiah embodies unparalleled wisdom and guidance, transcending the boundaries of human understanding. With divine insight and infinite knowledge, He stands as the ultimate counselor, uniquely equipped to lead and guide every child of the King. His guidance is life-changing and comforting. It provides sagacious advice for even the toughest challenges.
Nothing is beyond His understanding or ability to help.
REFLECT & PRAY
Stanley observes, “Whatever we need God to be for us, He is. He gives strength to the weak, shelter to the homeless, and shade to those fainting in the scorching sun. Our Redeemer is all this to us, and more.”
Father, teach me and encourage me to find joy as I go through the various trials and difficulties in my life. By faith, I understand that the purpose of my problems and trials is to strengthen, develop, and mature me.
INSIGHT
Discipline and Hope: A Paradox in Isaiah’s Message
Isaiah worships and expresses gratitude to the Father for His wonderful works, meticulously planned in eternity past for the nation of Israel. He marvels as these divine plans unfold, observing the Father’s active intervention within the fabric of time-space.
Joy in Adversity
Isaiah serves as a powerful example of finding joy amid trials and challenges, teaching God’s people to express gratitude even in times of great adversity. The Father’s discipline is not a sign of neglect but a profound demonstration of His steadfast love and unwavering consistency.
Every action God takes is intentional, woven into a divine plan carried out with precision and purpose. Through His extraordinary works, the Father reveals His sovereign authority, unmatched power, and unwavering faithfulness, affirming His commitment to fulfilling every promise.
Isaiah’s understanding of the purpose of adversity and his worshipful, wise, and joyful response lay the groundwork for what James and Paul more clearly and fully explain in the New Testament.
The Father is building perseverance in His children. Perseverance is developed through how we respond to trials.
James 1:2-4:
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Romans 5:3-5:
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
A Call to Praise in All Circumstances
Isaiah serves as a model for how every child of the King should respond to life’s challenges, with gratitude and praise. He highlights the importance of thanking the Father not only during seasons of blessing but also in times of difficulty and hardship.
How is it possible for us to do this?
God the Father reigns as the sovereign King, and His children are called to acknowledge His unwavering character of loyal love and faithfulness.
Knowing Who He is allows us to rejoice in the midst of adversity and trials. It is a recognition of the depth of His love for us. He is working out His eternal plan and developing our character and perseverance.
Adopting this perspective requires a significant paradigm shift. Rather than dwelling on our circumstances, we are called to turn our attention toward the Father, celebrating His unchanging character and steadfast faithfulness.
Isaiah, through his life and teachings, challenges all children of the King to embrace this outlook, reassuring us that God’s unwavering faithfulness persists, even when circumstances are uncertain or overwhelming.
An Invitation to Worship
Through his life and prophetic words, Isaiah calls the children of the King to reflect on God’s wonderful works and respond with genuine praise and worship. He urges us to celebrate not only God’s actions but also His very nature, a faithful, loving, and sovereign Father.
As Stanley wisely observes, “We do not praise the Lord because of the way we feel; we praise the Lord because of who He is and the way He feels about us.” This profound truth emphasizes that our worship is rooted in God’s unchanging character and boundless love, transcending the ups and downs of life’s circumstances.
Whether through discipline or blessings, God’s interventions are always intentional and based on His love. They serve as lasting reminders of His sovereignty, character, care, and ultimate purpose, shaping us into the people He has called us to be.
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© Dr. H 2026
Dr H Reflections 