God Sometimes Gives Us Hard Assignments
Isaiah 6 stands as a pivotal chapter in Scripture. At a critical moment in Judah’s history, when the nation faced immense threats, God called them to trust him. Isaiah, who had witnessed the grandeur of King Uzziah’s earthly court, was given a vision of God’s heavenly court, a vision that changed everything. It’s one of the most breathtaking revelations of God in the Old Testament. Through this encounter, Isaiah gained a greater view of God’s majesty, a sharper awareness of sin, and a profound understanding of forgiveness as God prepared him for the weighty role of prophet.
But Isaiah’s commission was anything but easy. God sought a messenger, and Isaiah, now cleansed, responded with readiness: “Here I am! Send me.” Yet the mission God entrusted to him was sobering. Isaiah’s message would primarily be one of judgment.
And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is a desolate waste,
and the LORD removes people far away,
and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
And though a tenth remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it is felled.”
The holy seed is its stump.
(Isaiah 6:9–13)
Isaiah’s preaching would harden hearts rather than soften them. Because of this judgment, the land and its people would face ruin. The judgment had already been decreed in heaven, but Isaiah’s ministry would bring it to pass on earth. The people’s refusal to respond to his message would itself be part of God’s judgment upon them.
Isaiah’s calling reminds us that faithfulness to God’s mission doesn’t always lead to visible success. Sometimes, it means standing by the truth despite rejection, trusting that God’s plan will succeed even when things look bad.
The last verse offers some hope: God still preserved a remnant. Even in the midst of a bleak passage, we see that God still has his people.
In the New Testament, Jesus quoted this passage about himself, highlighting how people heard his words but didn’t believe. Some rejected Jesus’ words, and their hearts were hardened. The same pattern holds true for many of God’s servants.
God’s assignments are not always easy. For reasons known only to him, he sometimes places us in challenging churches or contexts where visible fruit is scarce. We may face misunderstandings, criticism, or seasons of ministry that feel unproductive. Our churches might not grow, our preaching might not receive acclaim, and the work might feel overwhelmingly hard.
But this isn’t a sign of failure or disobedience. It may simply mean that God has entrusted you with a tough assignment. If that’s you, take heart. You’re in good company. Isaiah faced this. Jesus faced this. Many faithful servants have walked this path. It’s normal to feel discouraged at times, but like Isaiah, you can remain steadfast in your calling. Even when results seem invisible, God is working through you, and your faithfulness glorifies him. In the end, his approval matters far more than human recognition or response.
God doesn’t measure success the way we do. He calls us to faithfulness, not results. So stay faithful to what he’s called you to do, wherever he’s placed you, trusting that his purposes will prevail, even in the hardest assignments.
