Living Isaiah 58 — Serving Through Love and Action

Lately, my heart has been reflecting deeply on what it truly means to live a life completely surrendered to Jesus — a life that places others above oneself and seeks to serve them in the best way possible.

As I pondered this, I was reminded of the powerful words in Isaiah 58, where God, through the prophet, describes the kind of fasting that truly pleases Him. It’s not about outward acts of religiosity, but about living a life of compassion, justice, and mercy.

In that passage, God calls His people to:

1. Break the chains of oppression

2. End the exploitation of workers

3. Set free the oppressed and mistreated

4. Break every yoke of bondage

5. Share food with the hungry

6. Welcome the homeless into our homes

7. Clothe the naked

   
   

There is so much more in that passage, but these particular points have stayed with me. They remind me of why we began Creative Hands in the first place — to be a place where compassion meets creativity, and where faith is lived out through tangible acts of love.

Over the past few months, we’ve had to respond to increasing needs in refugee camps, and each experience has drawn us closer to the heart of our mission. We are called to come alongside those who are hurting, displaced, persecuted, lonely, sick, depressed, or hopeless — those who simply need someone to walk with them through life.

In the last three months alone, we have received messages from single women and mothers asking for help — for clothes, diapers, medicines, and other essentials. It has been challenging at times, but every time we’ve been able to meet a need, there has been such joy. We know that “whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me.”

Just last week, as I was preparing to travel, I visited a mother whose 16-year-old daughter had been admitted to the hospital due to dangerously high blood sugar levels. I’ve met this young girl before — she has the most beautiful and gentle smile, though it’s clear she carries deep emotional wounds. Her diabetes has led to several complications, leaving scars that others at school have mocked. Her mother told me that she doesn’t have many clothes, and the teasing only adds to her pain.

We are called to come alongside those who are hurting, displaced, persecuted, lonely, sick, depressed, or hopeless — those who simply need someone to walk with them through life.

When I heard this, my heart broke. I went through my own wardrobe, found clothes that might fit her, and brought them to the hospital — only to realize they were still too small. The mother then told me she hadn’t eaten for two days because the hospital only provides food for patients, and she had no money for herself. Thankfully, I had some cash with me and was able to give her something to buy food until she could return to the camp.

Stories like this break my heart — yet they also draw me deeper into the heart of the Father.

This family is one of three that we are currently helping in the camps, alongside other women who may not have children but still need support. It is truly a blessing to walk alongside them — to offer a hand of hope and a reminder that they are not forgotten.

I believe that Isaiah 58 gives us a clear invitation to live out our faith in practical, everyday ways. When we choose to obey, love, and serve, others come to know that Jesus is real — that His love restores, redeems, and brings lasting change for good.