“Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The word of the LORD you have spoken is good.’ For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’” (Isaiah 39:8, NIV)

Life can feel like a roller coaster. One moment we’re celebrating a victory; the next we’re facing a crisis that shakes us to the core. King Hezekiah knew this reality well. His life reads like a dramatic story—miraculous healing followed by foolish pride, divine favor followed by sobering consequences. Yet in his journey, we find wisdom for navigating our own ups and downs.

Hezekiah received the ultimate diagnosis. God sent Isaiah with a blunt message: “Put your house in order, because you are going to die” (Isaiah 38:1). In desperation, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed. God heard his cry and granted him fifteen more years. His story reminds us of the power of earnest prayer and the compassion of God.

But blessing was followed by testing. Envoys from Babylon arrived to congratulate him on his recovery. Flattered and eager to impress, Hezekiah proudly showed them all his treasures, weapons, and wealth. What seemed like harmless hospitality was actually reckless pride. He had handed potential enemies a detailed inventory of everything worth taking.

Isaiah soon returned with another word from the Lord: one day those same Babylonians would carry off all that Hezekiah had shown them, including his descendants. The consequences of his pride would fall on the next generation.

Hezekiah’s response is striking: “The word of the LORD you have spoken is good.” Was he being selfish because judgment would not come in his lifetime? Perhaps. But we also see a man who had learned to accept God’s discipline with humility, and to receive mercy even when it was mingled with hard truth.

His story teaches us at least two lessons. First, no matter how successful or secure we feel, we are never beyond the danger of pride. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12, NKJV). Second, in every season—victory or valley—we must turn to the Lord. The God who healed Hezekiah is the same God who promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).

This Week’s Challenge: Identify one area where you’ve been relying on your own strength or wisdom instead of seeking God. Commit to praying about that specific area each morning this week, asking God to help you trust Him rather than yourself.