ESOCS Devotional 21 February 2026 – Ever Present Father
MEMORY VERSE: “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:4 KJV
TEXT: ISAIAH 46:1-END
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops;
Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle.
Your carriages were heavily loaded,
A burden to the weary beast.
2 They stoop, they bow down together;
They could not deliver the burden,
But have themselves gone into captivity.
3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
Who have been upheld by Me from birth,
Who have been carried from the womb:
4 Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
5 “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal
And compare Me, that we should be alike?
6 They lavish gold out of the bag,
And weigh silver on the scales;
They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god;
They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.
7 They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it
And set it in its place, and it stands;
From its place it shall not move.
Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer
Nor save him out of his trouble.
8 “Remember this, and [b]show yourselves men;
Recall to mind, O you transgressors.
9 Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man who executes My counsel, from a far country.
Indeed I have spoken it;
I will also bring it to pass.
I have purposed it;
I will also do it.
12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted,
Who are far from righteousness:
13 I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off;
My salvation shall not linger.
And I will place salvation in Zion,
For Israel My glory.
READ OTHER ESOCS DEVOTIONAL HERE
In a world that values youth and can be cruel to the elderly, God’s promise in Isaiah 46:4 is a source of comfort. He doesn’t just care for us in our prime; He pledges to be present even “to your old age and gray hairs”. The world can be a place of uncertainty, and people and circumstances change, but this verse assures us of God’s unchanging nature.
God’s promise isn’t just for times of ease; it extends to our hardest and weakest moments, even to “old age and gray hairs”. God’s love is not fleeting; it is a commitment that lasts from our first breath to our last. We don’t have to carry our burdens alone. The verse is a powerful reminder to rely on God’s strength, which is available to us even when our own strength fades. This promise stands in stark contrast to the fleeting nature of many worldly relationships. God is a steadfast presence who is actively involved in our lives, carrying us “on my back” and delivering us from troubles.
The image of God “carrying” us is a powerful one of support and protection. It is a promise that He will lift our burdens, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. This isn’t a distant care, but an active, hands-on presence in our lives. This is a core truth of the Reformation: salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. We do not need to carry the burden of trying to earn our way to God; He has already done the carrying through Christ. The final promise to “rescue” is a comprehensive one. It speaks to God’s ability to save us from affliction, temptation, and even eternal death. He is our rescuer from every adversary and the ultimate salvation.
Since God’s promise spans all of life, the passage is a call to trust Him in every season. It’s an invitation to cast our cares on Him and believe that His love and care have no expiration date. Instead of growing weary, those who hope in the Lord are promised renewed strength, allowing them to “soar on wings like eagles”.
Reflections
- How is God sustaining you? What lessons have you drawn from the experience?
Prayer
- Heavenly Father, help me to trust that you are with me always, sustaining and carrying me through every challenge.
Further Reading: Amos 1:1-5; Luke 8:1 – 15; 1 Corinthians 7:25-End
ESOCS Devotional 21 February 2026
