‘I will praise you, Lord. Although You were angry with me.’ How could anyone praise an angry God? This is only possible for those who – just like the prophet Isaiah – have got to know God. Such people were certainly around in the days of this prophet, and such people also exist today, namely those who know they are the special possession of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9).
We often have a wrong image of God’s love. We think that God in His love will only give us good and nice things, to make our life more comfortable. But it is precisely because God loves us that He can be very angry with us when we take the wrong path. If we do not listen to His call and His rebukes, then He has to discipline us. After all, He is a true Father (Deuteronomy 32:6). Really, everything God does, comes from His fatherly love!
When we become fully aware of this, we learn to praise and glorify the Lord, whatever the circumstances, even when we go through terrible hardship. If we then entrust ourselves to Him and dare to be really vulnerable - like a child under Father’s care - we will sense His power and salvation, like Paul too experienced: ‘And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13).
How precious it is when after a time of testing, we may receive comfort from God Himself: ‘You have comforted me’ (:1). Then we know that the testing must have been worthwhile. Yes, then we learn to draw water from the wells of salvation joyfully (:3).