Notes from Yukiko's Desk

Dear friends of AGAC,

This week's readings all seem to circle around one simple question: what, or who, do we trust most? It's a question that feels just as relevant today as it did for Isaiah, Paul and Jesus.

One thing which strikes me is that in Isaiah 45 God's chosen instrument is Cyrus, a Persian king who neither belongs to Israel nor shares Israel's faith. God even says, "I call you by your name, though you do not know me" (v.4).

That immediately challenged my assumptions. We often expect God to work through the obvious people: church leaders, committed Christians, or established congregations. And yet, Isaiah reminds us that God's activity cannot be confined to our expectations. God is already at work beyond the walls of the church. He can work through anyone, even people who do not know Him!

In our own communities, we often see glimpses of this. Nurses, teachers, volunteers, and neighbours quietly offer hope and dignity long before anyone speaks about faith. That doesn't diminish the Church's calling. Rather, we are reminded that we should look for signs of God's kingdom in unexpected places and to join in with what God is already doing. The repeated phrase, "I am the Lord, and there is no other" can sound uncompromising to modern ears, but we can hear it as an invitation to trust. In a world where so many voices compete for our attention, God alone remains faithful. Political leaders come and go. Economic circumstances rise and fall. Public opinion shifts. But God remains. So let’s hope that these reflections encourage honest conversations, reminding us that even in seasons of uncertainty, God's presence remains our greatest security.

Trusting God will give you peace,

Yukiko

 
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