The book of Isaiah contains a lot judgment, but also some of the most beautiful passages of Scripture. Throughout the book, the Lord shows His character. I was afraid of committing to writing children’s curriculum on this book of 66 chapters, half of which record judgment on nations. As I studied it a few years ago, I found that I actually loved it because His goodness could be seen throughout the warnings. His grace and mercy sprinkled the pages that recorded punishment. His enduring love was beautifully revealed through the book.

I found myself about a week ago needing more. I needed to see Him afresh. I needed to feel His goodness and His peace. And I know so many need some of the same things. I was going to flip through my Bible and find verses on peace. Then I decided to just flip and see what He wanted me to acknowledge. When I got to Isaiah, I didn’t get out of it until I went to bed. So I accumulated a long list of verses, but I chose 15 that aren’t the ones you wouldn't normally hear all the time, and I wanted to share them with you all. I thought of my family and friends, and also my brothers and sisters in Christ whom I may not know yet need His uplifting.

This is a long list, so take the time to sit and read it, and allow the Word of the Lord to soak deep into your heart today. Copy and paste it, print it out, whatever you want to do. (Side note: these verses are some of my "go-to"'s when people want to argue that He is an angry, unmerciful God in the Old Testament.) I hope these passages will cause you to revel in our good God of the Old Testament and of today.

Here are 15 passages from Isaiah (ESV) in no particular order.

Isaiah 54:10

For the mountains may depart

and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 40:11

He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 61:7

Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;

instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;

therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;

they shall have everlasting joy.

Isaiah 41:10,13-14

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Fear not,

I am the one who helps you.”

Fear not, you worm Jacob,

you men of Israel!

I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;

your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:17-18

When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them;

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

I will open rivers on the bare heights,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.

Isaiah 42:16

And I will lead the blind

in a way that they do not know,

in paths that they have not known

I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light,

the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do,

and I do not forsake them.

Isaiah 43:1-4

But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

peoples in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 56:8

The Lord God,

who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,

“I will gather yet others to him

besides those already gathered.”

Isaiah 65:24

Before they call I will answer;

while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Isaiah 58:10-12

if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the Lord will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,

or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the Lord has spoken.

Isaiah 35:3-7

Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees.

Say to those who have an anxious heart,

“Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert;

the burning sand shall become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water.

Isaiah 62:2-5,12

The nations shall see your righteousness,

and all the kings your glory,

and you shall be called by a new name

that the mouth of the Lord will give.

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

You shall no more be termed Forsaken,

and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,

but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,

and your land Married;

for the Lord delights in you,

and your land shall be married.

For as a young man marries a young woman,

so shall your sons marry you,

and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,

so shall your God rejoice over you.

And they shall be called The Holy People,

The Redeemed of the Lord;

and you shall be called Sought Out,

A City Not Forsaken.

Hopefully these verses encouraged you as they encouraged me this week. I hope this list challenges you to go search the Scriptures for yourself and to find His character in the Book as a whole. Feel free to comment other verses you love from Isaiah or your own personal time below! I would love to read them.