Stop Grabbing the Duct Tape

A conversation on Isaiah

Have you ever jumped into a “quick fix” only to realize you opened a can of worms? I remember deciding I would replace the bathroom tile while my wife was out of town for the weekend. My plan was to surprise her by getting it all done before she came home. But once I started the demolition, I discovered a leak—and that tiny leak led to a huge new project. By the time she got back, I’d ripped out the entire bathroom, and three years later, let’s just say it’s… still not quite finished.

That’s the thing about quick fixes—they can backfire in ways we never see coming. They might patch the problem for a moment, but they often lead to bigger messes.

Last week, we took a look at Isaiah’s powerful encounter with God in Isaiah 1–6 and saw how he responded to God’s call: “Here am I. Send me.” Today, we’re jumping into Isaiah 7–12. In this passage, King Ahaz is faced with a massive crisis that tempts him to choose a band-aid solution. Instead of trusting God, he makes an alliance with neighboring powers—and it ends up creating a bigger headache than he ever anticipated.

The core message here is that God is with us, and when we trust Him, we can see beyond the chaos of our immediate problems. But often, in the heat of the moment, it’s easier to grab the duct tape—metaphorically or literally—rather than lean into God’s promises.

Before we dive deeper, turn to a person near you and share:

What’s a quick fix you once attempted—maybe in the house, at work, or anywhere—that spiraled into a bigger project than you expected?

When you look at the ancient world, alliances were normal—small nations tried to survive by partnering with bigger powers. That’s exactly what happened to King Ahaz of Judah. Two neighboring kingdoms, Israel (Ephraim) and Aram (Syria), threatened to invade (Isaiah 7:2). Desperate, Ahaz turned to Assyria, the dominant superpower of the day, hoping they’d bail him out. On the surface, it made sense—stronger allies meant better odds of survival. But it also put Judah under Assyria’s control, and it showed Ahaz wasn’t really trusting God’s promise to protect His people.

The prophet Isaiah stepped in, basically saying, “Stop freaking out. God is with us—He can handle this crisis if you trust Him.” He offered a sign called Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). Ahaz brushed it off, choosing a quick alliance over a long-term reliance on God.

The alliance didn’t just solve one problem; it created new ones. Eventually, Assyria turned into an even bigger threat, pushing their weight around Judah (Isaiah 8:7–8). Isaiah’s message was clear: short-term fixes might feel safe, but they often backfire. In this ancient world of shifting powers, trusting God was meant to be Judah’s unique strength, but Ahaz missed it.

Why do people so often get stuck in the “quick fix” mentality whenever a crisis hits?

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed you’ll grab onto anything that promises quick relief? That’s exactly where King Ahaz was in Isaiah 7–8. He sees two hostile neighbors teaming up to invade, and he panics. God tells him, “Trust Me, I’ve got this,” but he’s too scared to do it. Instead, he calls on the superpower of his day—Assyria—to swoop in and save him. At first glance, that might sound clever, but it’s basically a quick fix that ends up backfiring.

Yet here’s the twist: even though Ahaz refuses to believe, God still offers a sign—“a child named Immanuel,” which literally means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). The whole point is that when everything looks hopeless, God isn’t bailing out. He’s right there, present in our crisis.

Jump ahead to Isaiah 9, and we see this powerful declaration: 

“For to us a child is born... Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) 

This is God doubling down on hope—saying, “Even though life might feel like it’s spiraling, I’m sending a future King who will bring real peace.” Meanwhile, the big empire Ahaz trusted—Assyria—is warned in Isaiah 10 that their own pride is going to lead to a downfall. It’s a reminder that no matter how powerful we think we are, God is still ultimately in control.

Then comes Isaiah 11, which paints the picture of a dead-looking stump—David’s royal family—suddenly sprouting new growth: 

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse.” (Isaiah 11:1) 

It’s God’s way of saying, “What you think is done for... isn’t!” Out of that lineage will come a righteous, wise King, pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of that promise.

Finally, Isaiah 12 closes this section with a short but beautiful song of praise—a moment of thankfulness to God for His salvation. After warnings, judgments, alliances gone wrong, and hopes for a future King, we end with gratitude: 

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” (Isaiah 12:2)

So what does all this mean for us? Maybe you’re not battling invading armies, but life can feel like a war zone sometimes. And when stress hits, it’s tempting to reach for the nearest quick fix. The lesson from Ahaz is that those short-term solutions can blind us to God’s actual promise: He’s with us—Immanuel. He doesn’t always guarantee an instant end to the struggle, but He does promise His presence, and that’s a game-changer for how we walk through crises.

Here’s a thought to chew on: What difference does it make in your day-to-day life if you truly believe “God is with us”? How might that change the way you handle stress or setbacks? Think about it for a moment—because trusting God’s presence can shift us from panic-mode to a posture of faith that welcomes His work in ways we might not have seen otherwise.

What difference does it make when you truly believe “God is with us”? 

How might that change the way you handle stress or setbacks?

Life gets chaotic—we’ve all been there. In those moments, remembering “God with us” can change everything. It doesn’t magically erase our problems, but it calms our anxieties because we’re not fighting our battles alone. When we stop scrambling for a band-aid solution and actually align ourselves with God’s bigger story, we discover He’s already at work in ways we might not have noticed.

Next Steps

• Practice thankfulness: Just like in Isaiah 12, carve out a moment each day to list out what you’re grateful for—God’s goodness, answered prayers, even small victories.

• Recall past faithfulness: It’s easy to forget how God has shown up before. Consider journaling or sharing stories with friends about times God proved His faithfulness. Those memories fuel our faith when current struggles feel overwhelming.

• Seek community: Don’t go it alone. Lean on faith friends or your church family, asking them to pray or simply offer perspective. A support system can help you see beyond the immediate crisis.

Encouragement & Challenge

• Challenge: This week, resist the urge to jump on a quick fix. Pause. Pray. Literally ask God, “What’s Your perspective here?” before you make a move.

• Encourage: Even if your crisis doesn’t resolve overnight, you’re not alone. God is Immanuel—He’s present with you, and that reality can bring deep peace even in ongoing struggles.

What’s one practical step you can take this week to lean into God’s promises instead of rushing toward a quick fix?

The takeaway from Isaiah 7–12 is simple but powerful: We can look beyond our immediate crisis because God is present with us, He is faithful, and His plan goes way beyond our short-term panic.

So, as you go into this week, how will the promise of Immanuel—“God with us”—shape your decisions and outlook? Will you embrace a deeper trust, or will you default to the quickest fix? That’s something only you can answer, but it’s worth thinking about.

Let’s pray together:

God, we admit that fear often drives us to quick fixes and self-reliance. We feel the tension between wanting to trust You and wanting to take control. Help us see that You truly are with us—Immanuel. Strengthen our faith, guard our hearts against pride, and fill us with hope that mirrors Isaiah’s song of praise. We trust You to work beyond what we can see, even when life is overwhelming. Amen.

TAKE IT DEEPER:

• Read Isaiah 9.

• What would make you willing to get up SUPER early or stay up SUPER late?

• How does the New Testament interpret what this text means? (Matt 4:12-17, Luke 1:32, John 8:12)

• Of the titles given in this chapter, which fit Jesus as you know Him?

• What does it mean that there will be no end to the increase and peace of His reign?

READING PLAN:

• Isaiah 7

• Isaiah 8

• Isaiah 9

• Isaiah 10

• Isaiah 11

• Isaiah 12