Isaiah 38
What do you do when you get news that changes everything?
In Isaiah 38, King Hezekiah receives the worst diagnosis imaginable: “You’re going to die.” And not someday—soon. But in the middle of the fear, Hezekiah does something simple and bold: he prays. None of us are immune to moments where life feels fragile, even a king faces tragedy. And as we see here, God’s word doesn’t pretend that we won’t face those days. This short moment in Hezekiah’s life offers us a powerful picture of God’s character and what it looks like to trust Him when you’re out of strength.
After hearing of his fate, King Hezekiah responds very simply with a prayer. Facing the wall, he prayed to the Lord, “Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” (v. 3) Sometimes the most powerful prayer is a simple one. God help me.
When we are faced with circumstances outside of our control, our helplessness is put on display, and we are forced to reckon with our frailty. But the beauty of this is in God’s character. He doesn’t need us to be perfect, or even put together—He responds to our vulnerability! In our weakness, He is strong!
In this story, God speaks again through Isaiah, and assures the king that his cries have been heard and that he will be healed. And a sign to him of this promise was a miracle where God turned back the shadow of the sun dial ten steps. He turned back time as a sign of the 15 years of life He had granted to Hezekiah.
God could have just healed Hezekiah without a word. But instead, He sent a message and a sign—a confirmation that he had been heard. This is what our God does: He listens, He cares, He comforts. This is good news friends—God is still near to us today and He is still powerful to heal!
After this happened, Hezekiah responds with a song of worship. He faced his own mortality and from it writes a song of anguish that turns into deliverance. This is our story.
“Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish; in your love you kept me from the pit of destruction…” (v. 17 NIV)
We at some time or another (sometimes often) have had to face our own sin, but are met with God’s mercy and love. We know that our God is still the same God today—close to the brokenhearted, powerful enough to heal, and compassionate in every season.
So maybe today, you are dealing with a sickness or a burden—something that is far beyond your control.
I want to encourage you: God is near, He is listening, He has the power to save, and He loves you.