Isaiah 40:3-5

3 A voice of one calling:
“In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD ;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Verse 4 is such an apt description of the human heart — full of valleys that need to be raised up, mountains that need to be made low, rough grounds that need to become leveled, and rugged places that need to be made plain. What is a “valley?” Deep insecurity that warps our perceptions, causing us to be full of victim complex and self-pity that leads to misreading others, attributing false motives or wicked thoughts to others. What is a “mountain?” Pride that can’t accept the fact that we are not who we imagined ourselves to be or do not possess the qualities that others have. Easily bruised ego often sensitive to people’s comments and opinions. Strong ego that manifests itself in defensiveness. Pride that is surprisingly blind to our own double-standards that we impose on others that leads to self-righteousness. Both insecurity and pride often manifest themselves in the form of envy and jealousy. Our hearts are full of envy and jealousy. We feel diminished by people who are better than us. We even become resentful towards them. Why are we sometimes unhappy at others’ fortunes and success? Why are we discontent about life just because others have what I don’t have? Why do we become resentful towards parents, church leaders, school teachers, or bosses, and even God, for their failure to place us above others? And then there are deep mistrust and suspicion in the hearts of some people which are like the rough ground, full of pot holes that causes others to trip. And of course the unforgiving spirit where we are holding many people in the prison of our hearts.

These are the rugged places and rough places of our hearts. No wonder v.4 is the prerequisite for the glory of the LORD to be revealed. God’s glory can be revealed only when we are no longer full of ourselves, full of our own insecurities and pride, mistrust, bitterness, warped perceptions. God wants to fill our valleys with his love, level the mountains by directing our attention to who He is, and level the rugged places of our hearts with his grace and mercy.

How can we overcome our obsession with ourselves? It’s when we pursue God’s glory rather than focus on the fleeting glory of man. We have to hunger for God’s glory to be revealed to men so that they can encounter what an awesome and loving Heavenly Father they have. Indeed, the only way to be delivered from ourselves is when we avail ourselves for the Glory of the One who alone deserves all glory.