In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally explore Isaiah 8:11–22, a powerful passage calling God’s people to resist fear and trust wholly in the Lord. In a time of national panic and looming invasion, Isaiah is instructed not to think like the fearful crowd but to honor the Lord as holy and sovereign. Curtis and Sally reflect on the relevance of this message today, urging listeners to reject fear-driven mindsets and instead embrace faith, reverence, and obedience.

The conversation highlights the danger of seeking guidance from the dead, the spiritually dead, worldly sources and the importance of clinging to God’s word in times of darkness. Even as Isaiah foretells stumbling and judgment, there is a promise shining through: the hope of the coming Messiah. Jesus, the light of the world, calls us out of darkness and into life.

Join us as we discuss the challenge of keeping God holy in our lives, trusting Him above all else, and living with confident hope in His promises.

In this final stanza of Psalm 119 (verses 169–176), Curtis and Sally reflect on the psalmist’s heartfelt plea for God’s help, discernment, and rescue. They explore the tension between waiting on God’s promises and the reality of suffering, highlighting how prayer and praise can emerge even in the hardest circumstances. Drawing parallels to Job’s endurance and Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep, they emphasize that God hears, sees, and seeks us—especially when we feel most lost. This episode offers a reminder that humility, trust, and faith anchor us as we wait for the Good Shepherd to carry us home.

In this episode, Curtis and Sally explore Isaiah 8:1-10, where God commands Isaiah to name his son Maher-shalal-hash-baz—a prophetic sign of the swift Assyrian invasion. They discuss how Judah’s rejection of God's gentle provision in favor of Assyrian protection leads to devastating consequences. Yet even amid judgment, God’s presence remains. Through imagery of floods and promises of divine vindication, the hosts reflect on the tension between God’s discipline and love, and the dangers of trusting worldly power over God’s steady care.