Hi and welcome to today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread Devotional.

Our reading titled Where to Turn was written by Jennifer Benson Schult.

Everyone in high school admired Jack's easygoing attitude and athletic skill.

He was happiest in mid-air above a half-pipe ramp, one hand holding his skateboard,

the other stretched out for balance.

Jack decided to follow Jesus after he started attending a local church.

Up to that point, he'd endured significant family struggles and had used drugs to medicate his pain.

For a while after his conversion, things seemed to be going well for him.

But years later, he started using drugs again.

Without the proper intervention and ongoing treatment, he eventually died of an overdose.

It's easy to turn back to what's familiar when we face difficulty. When the Israelites felt the distress of an upcoming Assyrian attack in

Isaiah, chapter 30, they crawled back to the Egyptians, their former slave masters, for help. God predicted that this

would be disastrous, but he continued to care for them, although they made the wrong choice.

Isaiah voiced God's heart in verse 18. The Lord longs to be gracious to you. Therefore, he will rise up

to show you compassion. This is God's attitude toward us,

even when we choose to look elsewhere, to numb our pain. He wants to help us. He doesn't want

us to hurt ourselves with habits that create bondage. Certain substances and actions tempt us with a quick sense of relief, but God wants to provide

authentic healing as we walk closely with him. Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture

reading is from Isaiah chapter 30, verses 12 through 18.

Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says.

Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and dependent on deceit,

this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging,

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