In the Potter’s Hands — Jeremiah watches as a potter reshapes a marred vessel, a reminder that the Lord can guide and renew hearts willing to return to Him.

Come, Follow Me study notes for October 19–25, 2026

Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20

Download the complete study blog

Before Jeremiah felt ready to serve, the Lord called him. And when the people of Judah had become spiritually marred, the Lord showed Jeremiah a potter reshaping clay. This week’s reading testifies that God knows His children, invites them to return, and can shape willing hearts anew. The official lesson is for October 19–25 and covers Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; and 20.  

Summary

Jeremiah’s call begins with hesitation. “I cannot speak,” he tells the Lord; “for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). The Lord answers with assurance: “I am with thee” and “I have put my words in thy mouth” (verses 8–9). Jeremiah’s mission will be difficult, but the Lord promises to make him “a defenced city, and an iron pillar” (verse 18). His calling reminds me that God’s work does not depend on my feeling perfectly capable. He asks for willingness and offers His presence.

Jeremiah also exposes a painful contradiction: Judah comes to the temple saying, “The temple of the Lord,” while continuing to oppress others and worship false gods (Jeremiah 7:4–11). Sacred places and religious language cannot substitute for repentance, justice, and obedience. The Lord wants worship that changes how we live.

In Jeremiah 2:13, the Lord calls Himself “the fountain of living waters.” The people have forsaken that fountain and dug “broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” A spring offers continual, fresh water; a cracked cistern cannot satisfy. The image asks me to consider where I seek spiritual nourishment. The Lord is the living source of truth, hope, and life.

Even while warning Judah about the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, the Lord pleads with His people to return. Jeremiah sees a future gathering in which the Lord brings His people back to Zion—not merely to a place, but into covenant relationship with Him.

At the potter’s house, Jeremiah watches a marred vessel become another vessel in the potter’s hands (Jeremiah 18:1–6). The Lord applies this image to Israel, teaching that repentance leaves room for change. Choices still have consequences, but failure need not be the final shape of a willing heart.

Jeremiah’s ministry is emotionally demanding. At times he wants to stop speaking, but God’s word becomes “a burning fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9). His honesty shows that faithful disciples can feel discouraged; courage is continuing with the Lord even when the work is heavy.

Memorable Verses to Mark

• Jeremiah 1:5 — Known before birth. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” God knew Jeremiah before his mortal life. This truth can steady me when I feel overlooked, uncertain, or unready.
• Jeremiah 1:6–9 — The Lord answers inadequacy with presence. Jeremiah says, “I cannot speak.” The Lord promises, “I am with thee.” The reassurance is not that Jeremiah will never feel inadequate, but that he will not be alone.
• Jeremiah 1:10 — Root out, build, and plant. The Lord appoints Jeremiah to “root out, and to pull down,” but also “to build, and to plant.” The Lord removes what prevents covenant life so that He can establish something righteous and lasting.
• Jeremiah 2:13 — The fountain and the broken cisterns. This verse helps me examine what I turn to for comfort, identity, and direction—and whether it brings me nearer to Christ.
• Jeremiah 7:3–7 — Let worship change how we live. Genuine worship should make me more honest, merciful, and faithful in ordinary life.
• Jeremiah 3:14 — Gathered one by one. “I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” The Lord’s gathering is personal; each soul matters.
• Jeremiah 18:4–6 — The Potter can reshape the clay. “When the vessel … was marred … he made it again another vessel.” Repentance allows the Master to reshape our choices and character.
• Jeremiah 20:9 — A fire in the heart. God’s word becomes “a burning fire shut up in my bones.” The Lord can give us strength to speak and serve through discouragement.

What This Means to Me

Jeremiah’s story helps me separate being called from feeling qualified. I may see my limitations before I see what God can do through me. The Lord’s promise was not a guarantee of ease; it was the assurance of His presence. When I am asked to serve, speak, repair a relationship, or do something unfamiliar, I can take the next faithful step without waiting until every fear disappears.

The broken-cistern image invites honest self-examination. Many things promise quick relief or security, but not all can nourish the soul. I want to keep returning to the Savior as my source of living water through prayer, scripture, covenants, repentance, and the Holy Ghost.

Jeremiah’s temple sermon challenges me to make my worship visible in my conduct. It is possible to participate in religious routines while neglecting the people God asks me to love. True devotion should shape how I treat family, neighbors, strangers, and those who need help.

The potter’s house gives me hope when I recognize flaws in myself. The Lord’s correction is not proof that He has discarded me. In His hands, repentance can become a process of being remade. I can admit where I have gone wrong, accept needed correction, and trust that Christ can shape a better path from the clay I bring Him.

Finally, the Lord gathers His people one by one. A conversation, a prayer, forgiveness, or a simple welcome can help someone feel that Zion has room for them. I can participate in the gathering by helping others—and myself—come closer to Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection and Application

1. Where do I feel inadequate, and how might “I am with thee” help me take a next step?
2. What “broken cistern” do I sometimes rely on instead of the Savior’s living water?
3. Does my worship influence how I treat people when I leave church?
4. What part of my life might the Lord be inviting me to let Him reshape?
5. Who might need an invitation, encouragement, or reminder that the Lord wants to gather them?
6. When have I felt the Lord’s word or prompting become difficult to ignore?
7. What can I do this week to build or plant something faithful?

Image Caption

In the Potter’s Hands — Jeremiah watches as a potter reshapes a marred vessel, a reminder that the Lord can guide and renew hearts willing to return to Him.

Keywords

Jeremiah, calling, living water, repentance, gathering

Further Reading

• Official Come, Follow Me lesson: October 19–25
• Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
• Ahmad S. Corbitt, “You Can Gather Israel!”
• Russell M. Nelson, “Decisions for Eternity”
• Hugh W. Pinnock, “Beginning Again”
• “Jeremiah” — Scripture Helps

Labels: calling, gathering, Jeremiah, living water, repentance

// posted by John Fisher @ October 19, 2026 0 Comments

The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion — Jesus Christ brings liberty, healing, and morning light to a weary people as the earth blossoms and Zion rises in the distance.

Come, Follow Me study notes for October 12–18, 2026
Isaiah 58–66 — “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion”

Download the complete study blog

The official lesson emphasizes covenant worship through fasting and the Sabbath, Christ’s mission to heal and liberate, the gathering of Israel into His light, and the peace of His future reign.  

Summary

Isaiah 58 begins by correcting worship that is outwardly impressive but inwardly unchanged. The Lord’s chosen fast is not merely going without food. It should soften our hearts, break oppressive yokes, feed the hungry, shelter those in need, and help us recognize others as part of our human family. When worship becomes service, the Lord promises light, healing, guidance, strength, and answered prayer.

The same covenant spirit shapes the Sabbath. Isaiah calls the Lord’s day “a delight.” It becomes joyful when we turn from self toward Christ—worshipping, renewing covenants, strengthening families, serving others, and receiving spiritual rest.

Isaiah 59 confronts humanity’s inability to overcome sin alone. Because no mortal deliverer is sufficient, the Lord comes as Intercessor and Redeemer.

Isaiah 60–62 pictures Zion rising from darkness. The Lord becomes an everlasting light, scattered people gather, and righteousness shines before the nations. At the center stands the Messiah of Isaiah 61—the One anointed to heal broken hearts, liberate captives, comfort mourners, and exchange ashes for beauty. Jesus applied this prophecy directly to Himself in Nazareth.

The concluding chapters look toward Christ’s return and millennial peace. God, our Father and Potter, shapes His covenant people and promises a renewed creation where former troubles no longer dominate remembrance.

Memorable Verses to Mark

Isaiah 58:6–7 — Worship that releases burdens

“Loose the bands of wickedness” and “deal thy bread to the hungry.” A true fast turns devotion outward through generosity, compassion, and relief of suffering.

Isaiah 58:8–9 — Light and healing

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning.” As I worship sincerely and care for others, the Lord promises guidance and answers, “Here I am.”

Isaiah 58:11 — A watered garden

The Lord promises to guide His people continually and make them “like a watered garden.” Christlike service opens the heart to sustaining spiritual nourishment.

Isaiah 58:13–14 — A delightful Sabbath

Calling the Sabbath “a delight” means more than avoiding ordinary activities. It means deliberately turning my time, attention, and affection toward Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 59:16, 20 — The divine Intercessor

“The Redeemer shall come to Zion.” Jesus Christ can intervene where human strength, wisdom, and goodness fall short.

Isaiah 60:1–3, 19–20 — Arise and shine

Zion does not manufacture its own light; it reflects God’s glory. Darkness is real, but it is not final because the Lord is our everlasting light.

Isaiah 61:1–3 — Beauty for ashes

The Messiah heals, liberates, and comforts. “Beauty for ashes” does not deny grief; it promises that Christ can redeem suffering and create something holy from what appeared ruined.

Isaiah 63:7–9 — Remember His kindness

Isaiah chooses to “mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.” Remembering specific experiences of divine mercy strengthens faith during uncertainty.

Isaiah 64:8 — The Potter and the clay

“We are the clay, and thou our potter.” Discipleship requires humility and patience while God shapes a life whose completed form I cannot yet see.

Isaiah 65:17–19, 25 — A peaceful new creation

The promised “new heavens and a new earth” provide an eternal horizon: sorrow, disorder, and violence will not have the final word when Christ reigns.

What This Means to Me

These chapters remind me that sincere worship should change how I treat people. If fasting leaves me no more attentive to hunger, loneliness, injustice, or suffering, I may have practiced its outward form without receiving its intended spiritual transformation.

I also want to receive the Sabbath as a gift. It is easy to judge the day by what I cannot do, but Isaiah invites me to notice what the Lord offers: rest from the world’s noise, renewal through the sacrament, time for family and service, and space to hear the Spirit.

Isaiah’s description of the Redeemer matters because some burdens cannot be overcome through greater effort. Sin requires an Intercessor. Broken hearts need more than explanations. Captivity requires deliverance. Jesus Christ accomplishes what I cannot do for myself.

The promise of beauty for ashes offers hope without requiring me to pretend that painful experiences were not painful. Christ can consecrate loss, heal wounds, and develop compassion. The ashes may remain part of my story, but through Him they do not have to be its ending.

Finally, Isaiah encourages me to face the future with faith. I help prepare Zion by worshipping honestly, caring for those in need, honoring the Sabbath, repenting readily, and reflecting the Savior’s light.

Questions for Reflection and Application

1. What burden or “yoke” could I help loosen this week?
2. How can my next fast become more purposeful and connected with someone in need?
3. What change would help me experience the Sabbath as a delight?
4. Where am I relying only upon my own strength instead of turning to Christ?
5. What ashes or disappointment do I need to place in the Savior’s hands?
6. Which “lovingkindnesses of the Lord” should I record and remember?
7. How might God be shaping me through experiences I would not have chosen?
8. What can I do now to help build Zion and prepare for Christ’s return?

Further Reading

• Official Come, Follow Me lesson: October 12–18
• Isaiah 58–66
• “A Higher and Holier Fast” — Elder Ulisses Soares — teaches that joyful fasting, prayer, and generosity deepen our connection with the Lord.  
• “The Sabbath Is a Delight” — President Russell M. Nelson  
• “Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness” — Sister Kristin M. Yee  
• “The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming” — President Russell M. Nelson

Listen Here

Labels: fasting, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, redemption, Sabbath, Zion

// posted by John Fisher @ October 12, 2026 0 Comments

Labels: Adversaries, charity, forgiveness, Peacemakers, Resurrection

// posted by John Fisher @ October 11, 2026 0 Comments

He Hath Carried Our Sorrows. (Image created by ChatGPT)

Come, Follow Me study notes for October 5–11, 2026
Isaiah 50–57

Isaiah’s promised Deliverer does not conquer in the way the world expects. He comes as a servant—despised, wounded, and acquainted with grief. He saves His people by entering their suffering, bearing their burdens, and opening the way home. This is the central message of the official lesson for October 5–11.  

Summary

Isaiah 50–57 offers one of the Old Testament’s clearest testimonies of Jesus Christ. These chapters begin with people in darkness and captivity, yet the Lord repeatedly calls them to awaken, rise from the dust, put on strength, and trust Him. Their suffering is real, but it is not the end of their story.

Isaiah 52–53 reveals the unexpected nature of the Messiah. Instead of an admired earthly conqueror, Isaiah sees a suffering Servant who is rejected, oppressed, and brought like a lamb to the slaughter. Although innocent, He bears the sins, griefs, and sorrows of others. His wounds become the means by which we can be healed.  

The chapters that follow explain what Christ’s sacrifice makes possible:

• Isaiah 54 promises gathering, mercy, and a covenant of peace that will not be removed.
• Isaiah 55 invites everyone who thirsts to come freely to the waters of life, seek the Lord, and trust His higher ways.
• Isaiah 56 teaches that all who love the Lord and take hold of His covenant are welcomed into His house.
• Isaiah 57 promises that the high and holy God also dwells with the humble and contrite. He sees, leads, comforts, and heals those who return to Him.  

Together, these chapters teach that Jesus Christ does more than remove punishment. He understands suffering personally, carries what overwhelms us, restores what appears ruined, and gathers people who fear they do not belong. His invitation is not merely to admire His sacrifice but to come, trust, repent, receive His covenant, and help publish His peace.

Memorable Verses to Mark

Isaiah 50:4 — Speak hope to the weary

The promised Servant knows how to speak “a word in season to him that is weary.” Christ understands exhausted hearts. This verse also challenges me to make my words timely, compassionate, and strengthening.

Isaiah 50:10 — Trust when light is absent

Isaiah describes a faithful person who may still walk in darkness and have no visible light. Faith does not always mean seeing the outcome; sometimes it means continuing to trust God while the path remains unclear.  

Isaiah 51:3, 11 — God can transform desolation

The Lord can make Zion’s wilderness “like Eden.” The redeemed return with joy, while sorrow and mourning flee. God does not merely help His people survive devastation; He can create new life in places that looked permanently barren.  

Isaiah 52:2 — Rise from the dust

“Shake thyself from the dust” is both a command and a promise. Through Christ, captivity does not have to become identity. Repentance includes accepting the dignity, freedom, and new beginning the Redeemer offers.

Isaiah 52:7 — Publish peace

Those who bring good tidings and proclaim salvation are described as beautiful. Sharing the gospel can include formal missionary work, but it also includes offering hope, reconciliation, testimony, and peace in ordinary relationships.  

Isaiah 53:3–5 — Christ knows grief personally

The Savior is “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” He has borne our griefs, and through His wounds we can be healed. He understands sin, loss, loneliness, fear, illness, rejection, and pain—not as a distant observer, but as the One who carried them.

Isaiah 53:6 — He came for wanderers

“All we like sheep have gone astray.” The verse removes any basis for pride while also giving hope. Every person needs the Shepherd, and the Lord placed the burden of our iniquity upon Christ.  

Isaiah 54:2—Strengthen thy stakes

Isaiah 54:7–10 — Everlasting kindness

Even when the Lord seems distant, His gathering mercy is greater than the moment of separation. His kindness will not depart, and His covenant of peace will not be removed. Temporary feelings of abandonment do not cancel eternal promises.  

Isaiah 55:1–3 — Come to the waters

The Lord offers what the soul needs “without money and without price.” Grace cannot be purchased, but it must be received. I come to the water by listening, repenting, worshipping, making covenants, and allowing Christ to nourish my soul.

Isaiah 55:6–9 — Seek and trust

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.” His ways are higher than mine. This does not mean His purposes are indifferent or unknowable; it means His wisdom and mercy extend beyond my limited view.  

Isaiah 56:6–8 — A covenant for all people

The Lord calls His temple “an house of prayer for all people.” No sincere seeker needs to believe that he or she is permanently outside God’s concern. The gathering of Israel is an expanding invitation to belong to Christ.  

Isaiah 57:15, 18–19 — The Holy One heals the contrite

Although God inhabits eternity, He also dwells with those of a contrite and humble spirit. He promises to heal, lead, and restore comfort. Divine majesty and intimate compassion are perfectly united in Him.  

What This Means to Me

These chapters help me understand that Jesus Christ is not simply aware of my burdens. He has entered the full reality of mortal suffering and carried it. When I feel grief, regret, exhaustion, rejection, or fear, I do not have to persuade Him to understand. He already does.

Isaiah 53 also reminds me that Christ’s healing came at an immeasurable cost. I should not treat repentance casually, but neither should I believe that I am beyond repair. The Savior did not suffer so that I would remain trapped in shame. He suffered so that I could turn, be forgiven, become clean, and move forward with greater humility and compassion.

The invitation to rise from the dust is especially meaningful to me. Difficult experiences and past mistakes can influence my life, but they do not have the authority to define my eternal identity. Through Christ, I can loosen spiritual chains, recover hope, and accept a future that looks different from the past.

I am also struck by the wideness of the Lord’s invitation. Everyone who thirsts may come. The stranger is not to say, “The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people.” God’s covenant creates belonging while also asking for commitment. If I take hold of that covenant, I should help other people feel that there is a place for them too.

Finally, Isaiah invites me to become a publisher of peace. Because Christ has carried me, I can help carry others. I can speak a timely word to someone who is weary, remove stumbling blocks rather than create them, and help people see that the road back to God remains open.

Questions for Reflection and Application

1. What grief, fear, regret, or burden do I need to place more fully in the Savior’s care?
2. When have I felt the Lord sustain me even though I was still walking through darkness?
3. Is shame keeping me in the dust after Christ has invited me to rise?
4. What am I spending time or effort on that does not truly satisfy my soul?
5. Where might the Lord’s higher way require me to trust beyond what I presently understand?
6. Who around me may feel separated or uncertain that there is a place for them?
7. What “word in season” could I offer someone who is weary this week?
8. How can I publish peace through my speech, teaching, service, or relationships?

Image Caption

He Hath Carried Our Sorrows — Jesus Christ lifts a weary traveler’s burden beside living water, showing that the Savior enters our suffering, heals the contrite, and leads all who will come toward peace and home.

Keywords

Jesus Christ, Atonement, healing, covenant, homecoming

Further Reading

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (2026). “October 5–11: ‘He Hath Borne Our Griefs, and Carried Our Sorrows’. Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026.
• Isaiah 50–57, beginning with Isaiah 50 in the online scriptures.
• Soares, U. (2021, April). “Jesus Christ: The Caregiver of Our Soul”. General conference. Elder Soares teaches that Christ offers relief, comfort, and strength because He personally experienced mortal pain and weakness.  
• Uchtdorf, D. F. (2016, April). “He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home”. General conference.  
• Kearon, P. (2024, April). “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home”. General conference.  

What is the origin of the LDS organizational units called wards and stakes?

Labels: atonement, covenant, healing, homecoming, Jesus Christ, stakes, wards

// posted by John Fisher @ October 11, 2026 0 Comments

Come, Follow Me Study Notes | Isaiah 40–49 | September 28–October 4, 2026

Summary

Isaiah 40 begins with a dramatic change in tone: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” After chapters filled with warnings of judgment, captivity, and destruction, Isaiah turns toward hope.

Israel would experience defeat and captivity. Jerusalem would fall. To people who might wonder whether God had abandoned them, Isaiah gives a powerful answer: He has not forgotten you.

These chapters repeatedly remind us who God is. He is the Creator who does not grow weary. He strengthens those who have no strength. He holds His people by the hand. He calls them by name. He walks with them through fire and water. He forgives sin, redeems His people, and promises that He will never forget them.

The central message of Isaiah 40–49 can be summarized simply:

God remembers us even when circumstances make us wonder whether He does.

The official Come, Follow Me lesson identifies several major themes: Jesus Christ gives comfort and hope; we can serve as His witnesses; God’s power is greater than worldly power; and the Lord can refine us through affliction. (Church of Jesus Christ)

Memorable Verses to Mark

Isaiah 40:11

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.”

God’s power is not merely the power of a king. Isaiah describes the Almighty God tenderly carrying His people like a shepherd carrying lambs.

Isaiah 40:29

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”

God does not demand that we first become strong enough to deserve His help. He gives strength precisely because we lack it.

Isaiah 40:31

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.”

Waiting upon the Lord is not passive resignation. It is continuing in faith while trusting God’s timing.

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee.”

This may be one of the clearest summaries of these chapters. The Lord does not merely say that frightening circumstances will disappear. He promises something greater: His presence within them.

Isaiah 41:13

“I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

This is a remarkably personal image. The God who created the heavens describes Himself as taking us by the hand.

Isaiah 43:1

“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”

We are not anonymous to God. He knows His children individually.

Isaiah 43:2

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.”

Notice that the promise is not that we will never encounter deep water or fire. The promise is: “I will be with thee.”

Isaiah 43:10–11

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord.”

Those who have experienced God’s goodness have a responsibility to testify of Him.

Isaiah 44:22

“Return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

Repentance is not simply turning away from sin. It is returning to Someone who already wants us back.

Isaiah 46:4

“Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you.”

God’s care is lifelong. He does not abandon His children when they become weak, old, discouraged, or dependent.

Isaiah 48:10

“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”

Trials can become places of refinement. God can use experiences we would never choose to shape us into something greater.

Isaiah 48:18

“Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.”

Obedience produces something deeper than momentary happiness. Isaiah describes covenant peace as something continuous and flowing.

Isaiah 49:15–16

“Can a woman forget her sucking child? … yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”

This is perhaps the most memorable promise in the entire week’s reading:

The Lord has not forgotten me.

Lessons I Learned

1. God Is Much Bigger Than Whatever Frightens Me

Isaiah repeatedly contrasts God’s power with earthly kingdoms, rulers, idols, and nations.

Babylon appeared overwhelmingly powerful to Israel. Yet from God’s perspective, even the nations are temporary.

That raises a useful question:

What is my “Babylon”?

What circumstance seems so large that I have begun treating it as though it were larger than God?

Isaiah invites me to change my perspective. My problem may genuinely be difficult, but it is not beyond God’s power.

2. “Fear Not” Does Not Mean Nothing Bad Will Happen

Isaiah does not promise a trouble-free life.

He says:

When you pass through the waters.

When you walk through the fire.

The gospel promise is not:

You will never experience difficulty.

The promise is:

“I will be with thee.” — Isaiah 43:2

That changes how I understand faith. Faith is not confidence that everything will happen the way I want. It is confidence that God will remain with me regardless of what happens.

3. God Gives Strength to Tired People

Isaiah 40:28–31 is especially meaningful because it acknowledges exhaustion.

Even strong people become tired.

Even young people stumble.

But God “fainteth not, neither is weary.”

When my own strength is depleted, I am not limited to my own resources. I can draw strength from Someone whose strength is inexhaustible.

Sometimes the miracle may be that God removes a burden.

At other times the miracle may be that He increases my ability to carry it.

4. I Am Called to Be a Witness

Isaiah 43:10 says:

“Ye are my witnesses.”

A witness does not need to know everything.

A witness simply tells what he or she knows and has experienced.

I can ask:

What evidence have I personally seen that Jesus Christ lives, helps, strengthens, forgives, or guides?

Those experiences constitute my testimony.

The Come, Follow Me manual suggests imagining ourselves on a witness stand and considering what evidence from our own lives we could offer in support of Christ’s claim that He is the Savior. (Church of Jesus Christ)

That is a powerful way to think about testimony.

5. Affliction Can Become Refinement

Isaiah writes:

“I have refined thee … I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” — Isaiah 48:10

A furnace is uncomfortable precisely because it is hot enough to change something.

Some experiences in life reshape us:

• disappointment
• illness
• failure
• loss
• uncertainty
• difficult relationships
• professional challenges
• unanswered prayers

The question may not always be:

“How do I get out of this?”

Sometimes a better spiritual question is:

“What is God trying to develop in me while I am here?”

Affliction itself is not automatically sanctifying. But when we turn toward God within affliction, He can transform suffering into refinement.

6. God Has Not Forgotten Me

Israel says:

“The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” — Isaiah 49:14

God answers with one of scripture’s most tender metaphors.

Could a mother forget her nursing child?

Even if such a thing happened, God says:

“Yet will I not forget thee.”

Then He adds:

“I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”

For Christians, it is difficult to read those words without thinking of the wounds in the Savior’s hands.

The marks of Christ’s sacrifice become an eternal reminder of His love and redemption.

When I feel forgotten, Isaiah teaches me that my feelings are real—but they are not necessarily an accurate description of God’s relationship with me.

What This Means to Me

The message I take from Isaiah 40–49 is that discipleship does not mean that life will always feel secure.

Israel experienced captivity.

People became discouraged.

Some wondered whether God’s promises had failed.

Yet God had not changed.

That is important because sometimes I judge God’s faithfulness according to what is happening around me.

Isaiah asks me to reverse that reasoning.

Instead of interpreting God through my circumstances, I should interpret my circumstances through what I know about God.

He knows me.

He calls me by name.

He gives strength when I am tired.

He holds my hand when I am afraid.

He walks with me through fire and water.

He can refine suffering into growth.

And above all:

He does not forget His children.

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. What situation in my life currently requires me to hear the words “Fear not; for I am with thee”?
2. Where have I seen God strengthen me when my own strength was insufficient?
3. What experience from my life could I offer as a witness that Jesus Christ lives?
4. What might God be teaching or developing in me through my present “furnace of affliction”?
5. Is there something I need to stop trying to control and instead “wait upon the Lord”?
6. Who around me may currently feel forgotten, discouraged, or overwhelmed?
7. How could I become part of God’s answer to Isaiah’s command: “Comfort ye my people”?

One Thought to Remember This Week

God never promises that I will avoid every deep water or fiery trial. He promises something better: “I will be with thee.”

And when I wonder whether He has forgotten me, Isaiah gives God’s answer:

“Yet will I not forget thee.” — Isaiah 49:15

Additional Study

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 — Isaiah 40–49
The official lesson includes passages emphasizing comfort, witnessing of Christ, God’s superiority to worldly powers, and refinement through affliction. (Church of Jesus Christ)

1 Nephi 22
The Come, Follow Me lesson recommends reading 1 Nephi 22 to see how Nephi interpreted and applied Isaiah 48–49 to his people and to the latter days. (Church of Jesus Christ)

Patrick Kearon, “He Is Risen with Healing in His Wings: We Can Be More Than Conquerors”
The official study guide recommends Elder Kearon’s April 2022 general conference message as supplemental reading on Christ’s healing and redemptive power. (Church of Jesus Christ)

Come, Follow Me lesson: Come, Follow Me — Isaiah 40–49

Keywords

Isaiah, comfort, Jesus Christ, redemption, hope

A particularly strong theme for this week’s study is “The Lord will never forget me.” It would also make an effective focus for an accompanying blog image—Christ as the Good Shepherd with a person walking through dark water toward light, visually tying together Isaiah 40:11, 43:2, and 49:15–16.

Labels: comfort, hope, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, redemption

// posted by John Fisher @ September 29, 2026 0 Comments