Trauma Transformed

"It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple." Isaiah 6:1

I still recall, as a young person, hearing a message from Isaiah 6:1. The speaker concluded with the question, "What has to die in your life in order for you to see the Lord?" That thought returns to me every time I read this passage in Isaiah.

King Uzziah's royal reign latest 52 years. He would have been included in the list of "good kings" as he was a man who sought the Lord. Because of his military accomplishments, 2 Chronicles 26:8 tells us "his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful." Sadly, with power came pride and this led to his downfall. Although a great and wise king, his life ended tragically. It wasn't until his death that Isaiah saw the Lord.

None of us want calamity to touch our lives, but it is often through the worst of times that God makes His presence even more clear. With the passing of this earthly king, Isaiah saw the sovereign Ruler of the universe. 

Yesterday morning I was listening to the "Trauma Transformed" podcast. As the weekly guest shared a recent experience that could have ended with loss of life, she gave praise to the Lord for the many ways He took a horrendous situation and opened her eyes to see the goodness of God all around her. It is often in these undesirable circumstances that our understanding of the Lord grows deeper and we see Him as He makes His presence more obvious to us. It is not that He draws nearer; He has always been there, but with the hardship He draws our attention to focus beyond the situation to His provision.

Through all the uncertainties of life, God is sitting on His throne, but often there are things that need to "die", be removed, or to occur so that we can see past what is to Who is. With the passing of king Uzziah, one of the Bible's most well-known prophets had a fresh encounter with the Lord. Already it has been mentioned that Judah's ruler was a good king, but often times that is why it is hard to see how we are missing out on knowing God. It is not that we are pursuing wicked and evil activities, but our view is blocked by some great earthly, even God-honouring person or pursuit. If only whatever stood in our way of seeing the Lord was blatantly and obviously wrong, we might not allow it to hold such attention and attraction.

I'm sure Isaiah did not consider the death of Uzziah as a good thing. Because of his long reign, there would have been many Israelites who only knew the leadership of this one king. It is doubtful his death was perceived as a blessing, and yet it was this death that removed the scales of spiritual blindness so that Isaiah could discern the beauty and glory of God.

As we make this personal, I wonder if we could echo the prophet's proclamation. In the moment of receiving the diagnosis. In the months following the job loss. In the year dad died. In the weeks after the miscarriage. When there was no idea how the bill was going to be paid. In the middle of failure, insecurity, grief, brokenness, chaos and crisis, we can say with Isaiah, I saw the Lord.

God desires to meet with us, and sometimes it takes heroes falling, health failing, confidence faltering, foundations fracturing and resources fleeing for our faith to see God amidst our circumstances. When Isaiah saw the Lord, his life was transformed. May change occur for all who see.