hi and welcome to today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional are reading titled where to turn was written by Jennifer Benson schuldt
 everyone in high school in Mayer Jack is he going attitude and athletic skill he was happiest in mid-air above a half-pipe ramp one hand holding a skateboard the other stretched out for balance Jack decided to follow Jesus after he started attending a local church after that point he didn't do word significant family struggles and have used drugs to medicate his pain for a while after his conversion things seemed to be going well for him but years later he started using drugs again without the proper intervention and ongoing treatment he eventually died of an overdose
 it's easy to turn back to what familiar when we Face difficulty when the Israelites felt the distress of an upcoming Assyrian Tack and Isaiah chapter 30 they crawl back to the Egyptians their former slave masters for help God predicted that this would be disastrous but he continued to care for them although they made the wrong choice Isaiah voice God's heart and verse 18 the Lord longs to be gracious to you therefore he will rise up to show you compassion
 this is God's attitude toward us even when we choose to look elsewhere to no more pain he wants to help us he doesn't want us to hurt ourselves with habits that create bondage
 certain substances and actions tempt us with a quick sense of relief but God wants to provide authentic healing as we walked closely with him
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 30 verse 12 through 18
 therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says because you have rejected this message relied on a Prussian and dependent on deceit this sin will become for you like a high wall cracked and bulging the collapse is suddenly in an instant
 it will break in pieces like Pottery shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals for my heart or scooping water out of a cistern
 this is what the Sovereign Lord the Holy One of Israel says
 in Repentance and rest is your salvation in quietness and trust is your strength but you would have none of it you said no we will flee on horses therefore you will flee you said we will ride off on Swift horses there for your pursuers will be swift a thousand will flee at the threat of one at the threat of five you will all flee away till you are lapped like a Flagstaff on a Mountaintop like a banner on a hill that the Lord longs to be gracious to you therefore he will rise up to show you compassion for the Lord is a God of Justice
 blessed are those who wait for him
 I pray to your God please set us free from simple patterns that may temporarily no more pain but in the end caused us great suffering
 help us to turn to you for our peace and relief thank you Lord It's in Jesus name we pray amen
 thank you for listening today my name is Alicia Reisinger in today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries