Find Comfort in the Book of Isaiah

1-2. How does Jehovah respond when we face situations that make us feel sad?

IMAGINE a heartbroken child weeping uncontrollably. Perhaps his family is moving to a new home and this means that he has to leave his friends behind. Or maybe he is devastated about a mistake he made. In such moments, what would a loving mother do? She would gently embrace her child, listen to his tearful concerns, and assure him of her love.

² In the Bible, Jehovah compares himself to a caring and loving mother who comforts her child. He says: “As a mother comforts her son, so I will keep comforting you.” (Isa. 66:13) Jehovah’s love for us is greater than that of any parent. (Isa. 49:15) Through His Word, the Bible, Jehovah provides us with the comfort and strength we need when we are downhearted or are in distress.​—Rom. 15:4.

3. What will we consider in this article?

³ The book of Isaiah is filled with comforting expressions from Jehovah. (Isa. 40:1) Our loving Father inspired the writing of the book to assure his people during a turbulent period in Judah’s history. We too live in “critical times hard to deal with” and therefore need comfort. (2 Tim. 3:1) Let us consider some verses in the book of Isaiah that can soothe and fortify us when we are (1) faced with an unexpected change in circumstances, (2) plagued with excessive guilt, or (3) grieving the loss of a loved one.

WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY

4. How could a sudden change in circumstances affect us?

⁴ Our life can take an unexpected turn. (Eccl. 9:11; 1 Cor. 7:31) We could suddenly face a health crisis, a financial hardship, a political upheaval, or a change of assignment. Such changes can make us feel anxious or confused. It is only natural to wonder: ‘Where do I go from here?’ A brother named Joseph, who was transferred to the field after serving for about 17 years at Bethel, says: “I felt lost. It was a huge challenge to start a new life after being at Bethel for so long. I didn’t know where to start.” What assurance does Jehovah provide through Isaiah if we have to deal with an unexpected change in circumstances?

5. As found at Isaiah 42:16, what assurance does Jehovah provide for us? (See also picture.)

⁵ Read Isaiah 42:16. Jehovah promises to lead those who are figuratively blind along unfamiliar paths and to turn darkness into light. The expressions “blind,” “unfamiliar paths,” “darkness,” and “rugged terrain” may well describe the way we view our future when our circumstances change unexpectedly. We might feel as if we were walking through a dense forest, unsure of the path ahead. Yet, Jehovah assures us that whatever situation we face, he will give us the guidance we need and will never abandon us. He will take us by the hand and lead us through the darkness, shedding light on our way and smoothing out the rough terrain. How does Jehovah do this? By providing us with wise counsel through his Word and his organization. (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 30:21) He also uses our fellow believers and others to assist us in practical ways. Even when the path ahead is unclear and seems difficult, we can trust that Jehovah will lead us with care and understanding.​—Isa. 41:10; 1 Pet. 5:6, 7.

6. If our circumstances change unexpectedly, of what can we be sure?

⁶ Joseph, mentioned earlier, explained how he and his wife felt Jehovah’s loving support after they left Bethel. He says: “We saw Jehovah’s loving hand during the transition period. He helped us by means of wonderful brothers and sisters. He cared for our material and emotional needs at just the right time, and he continues to do so.” If your circumstances change unexpectedly, you too can be sure that Jehovah will provide the strength and guidance you need no matter how daunting the change might seem. (Isa. 54:10; 58:11) Joseph adds: “The lyrics from one of our original songs put it nicely, ‘What tomorrow may bring, I do not know, but I know that I won’t face it alone.’a Yes, although things may not go as we plan, one thing is certain: Jehovah will be with us each step of the way.”

WHEN PLAGUED WITH EXCESSIVE GUILT

7. What struggle may some have because of their past mistakes?

⁷ When we confess a serious sin that we have committed, we receive loving help from the elders and we thereafter work hard not to repeat the sin. (Prov. 28:13; Jas. 5:14-16; 1 John 1:9) However, even after we have been shown mercy, we may still struggle with persistent guilt. We might think, ‘How could Jehovah ever forgive me for what I have done?’ (2 Cor. 2:7) This feeling is understandable because the weight of past mistakes can be heavy and the memory of them can linger. “There is no peace within my bones because of my sin,” King David wrote. “I have grown numb and become completely crushed.” (Ps. 38:3, 8) If you feel this way at times because of past mistakes, the book of Isaiah offers comfort.

8-9. As described at Isaiah 1:18, how complete is Jehovah’s forgiveness?

⁸ Read Isaiah 1:18. Jehovah uses a vivid word picture to describe how completely and thoroughly he forgives our sins. He says that even if our sins “are like scarlet,” he will make them “white as snow.” Scarlet is a bright red color that does not fade easily. Yet, Jehovah assures us that when he forgives us, we will not bear the stain of those sins for the rest of our lives.

⁹ Consider the example of King David. Although he was guilty of adultery and murder, Jehovah forgave him and later referred to him as a man of integrity. (2 Sam. 11:3, 4, 14, 15; 12:13; 1 Ki. 9:4, 5) Jehovah defined David, not by his mistakes, but by his faithful course. Similarly, Jehovah lovingly forgives us when we repent, and he helps us move forward with a clean conscience. What other assurance can we find in the book of Isaiah when plagued by excessive guilt?

10. What comforting assurance do we find at Isaiah 38:17?

¹⁰ Read Isaiah 38:17 and footnote. The phrase “you have thrown all my sins behind your back” could also be rendered “you have removed all my sins from your sight.” Jehovah is here depicted as taking the sins of a repentant wrongdoer and throwing them behind Him, where He no longer sees them or thinks about them. According to one reference work, the idea may be expressed: “You have made [my sins] as if they had not happened.” So when Jehovah forgives our sins, to him, it is as though we had never sinned. Once Jehovah forgives us, he will never bring up our past sins to accuse or punish us again. He wipes out the record of those sins completely. He promises: “I will not remember your sins.” (Isa. 43:25) How comforting! If Jehovah, the Supreme Judge, no longer holds our sins against us, who are we to hold them against ourselves?

11. Regardless of what we have done in the past, what does Jehovah focus on? (See also picture.)

¹¹ Whenever feelings of excessive guilt resurface, we need to remind ourselves of Jehovah’s loving assurances. His forgiveness is real and complete. He is not ashamed of us because of our past mistakes, and he is not like imperfect people who hold a grudge. (Isa. 57:16) What really matters to Jehovah is, not the person we were, but the person we are today and the person we are striving to become. (Isa. 55:7) What a loving and forgiving God we serve! Therefore, may we never allow our past mistakes to ruin our present happiness or to deprive us of future blessings.

WHEN GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

12. How might we feel when a loved one dies?

¹² When someone we love dies, the grief we feel can be overwhelming and the pain of the loss can linger. At times, we might wonder why Jehovah allowed our loved one to die. A brother named Michael lost his parents in a fire. He says: “My heart broke to pieces, and I was angry at Jehovah for allowing them to die. I know that he didn’t cause their death, but he didn’t stop it either.” Perhaps you have felt similarly. In such moments of sorrow, what comfort and hope does Jehovah provide?

13. What promise does Jehovah hold out to us at Isaiah 25:8?

¹³ Read Isaiah 25:8. Jehovah promises to “swallow up death forever.” Imagine the time when death is no more! You will never again have to mourn the loss of someone you loved. (Isa. 35:10) You will never again experience the heartache of looking at a marker that tells you where your loved one is buried. Instead, you have the prospect of always having your loved ones with you, alive and in good health. This promise is not based on wishful thinking but is given by the only one capable of fulfilling it​—God himself.​—Rev. 21:4, 5.

14. How do you feel when you contemplate the hope of the resurrection? (Isaiah 26:19) (See also picture.)

¹⁴ Read Isaiah 26:19. Not only will Jehovah put an end to death but he will also bring our dead loved ones back to life. Referring to them, he says: “My corpses will rise up.” This indicates that Jehovah now claims personal responsibility for them. He preserves them in his memory. And at his appointed time, he will resurrect them. As the morning dew revives dry vegetation, Jehovah, the Source of all life, will awaken our loved ones from the sleep of death. What a joy it will be to welcome them back!​—Compare Mark 5:42.

15. How does the promise of the resurrection help us cope with grief?

¹⁵ While God’s promise of a resurrection does not eliminate our grief, we can take comfort in knowing that Jehovah has not forgotten our dead loved ones. This hope comforted Michael, quoted earlier. He says: “Isaiah 26:19 helped me to understand that Jehovah has a personal attachment to my parents. He has been keeping them safe in his memory, and he will continue to do so until he delivers them from death in his due time. I find comfort and strength in this.” May we too focus on the promise of being reunited with our dead loved ones. Doing so will make the pain easier to bear.

16. What scripture have you found comforting during a difficult situation?

¹⁶ We have considered a few verses from the book of Isaiah that can comfort us when we face an unexpected change in our circumstances, when we are plagued by excessive guilt, and when we are grieving. How grateful we are that Jehovah comforts and soothes us by means of his Word! (Ps. 94:19) Is there a scripture that you find particularly comforting when facing a distressing situation? Memorize it if you can, write it out in a journal, or post it where you will see it often. And may you find comfort from the soothing words of our loving heavenly Father, Jehovah.