Here I Am, Lord. Answering the Call in a Time of Silence (Isaiah 6:8)

 

For too long, the American church has retreated behind stained glass windows and sanctuary walls, content to whisper prayers while our nation desperately needs to hear the Gospel proclaimed boldly in every corner of society. But there's a stirring happening across this great country. Believers are remembering what it means to answer God's call with the same courage that Isaiah showed when he declared, "Here am I, Lord. Send me!"

The Prophet's Bold Response

When Isaiah encountered the Lord sitting on His throne, high and lifted up, everything changed. The temple was filled with smoke, the seraphim cried "Holy, Holy, Holy," and Isaiah found himself face to face with the Almighty God. In that moment of overwhelming divine presence, Isaiah didn't hide. He didn't make excuses. When God asked, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Isaiah's response was immediate and unwavering: "Here am I! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8).

This wasn't just a casual "Sure, I'll help out." This was a complete surrender of his life to God's mission. Isaiah understood that God wasn't looking for perfect people. He was looking for available people. People willing to step out of their comfort zones and carry His message wherever He sent them.

Taking the Gospel Beyond Church Walls

Charlie Kirk understood this calling. Rather than keeping his faith locked away in Sunday morning services, he took the Gospel message into universities, political arenas, and public squares across America. He recognized what many believers have forgotten: Jesus didn't command us to build bigger sanctuaries. He commanded us to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

The Great Commission wasn't meant to be fulfilled only by missionaries in foreign lands. It's meant to be lived out by every believer in their workplace, their neighborhood, their community, and yes, even in the political arena. When we confine our faith to Sunday mornings, we're essentially telling God, "Thanks for salvation, but we'll handle the rest of the week ourselves."

That's not what Isaiah did. That's not what the early apostles did. And that's certainly not what the founders of our great nation did.

America's Legacy of Public Faith

Our founding fathers never intended faith to be a private matter hidden from public view. George Washington proclaimed in his farewell address that "religion and morality are indispensable supports" to political prosperity. John Adams declared that "our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people."

During the Revolutionary War, when things looked darkest at Valley Forge, it wasn't political rhetoric that sustained our troops through that brutal winter. It was faith. George Washington was known to spend hours in prayer, seeking divine guidance for the young nation. The Continental Congress called for days of prayer and fasting, recognizing that without God's blessing, their cause was hopeless.

These weren't men who believed faith belonged only in church. They understood that a nation founded on biblical principles needed citizens willing to live out those principles in every aspect of society.

The Cost of Silence

But somewhere along the way, many American Christians bought into the lie that faith should be kept private. We've been told that bringing our beliefs into public discourse is somehow inappropriate or divisive. The result? Our culture has drifted further and further from the biblical values that once anchored this nation.

We've watched prayer removed from schools, the Ten Commandments banned from courthouses, and biblical morality dismissed as outdated. All while too many believers stood silently on the sidelines, convinced that speaking up would be "too political" or "not our place."

Isaiah could have stayed quiet too. He could have reasoned that he was just a prophet, not a political leader. But when God asked who would go, Isaiah didn't hesitate. He didn't wait for someone more qualified or more comfortable with public speaking. He simply said, "Here am I. Send me."

The marketplace Needs the Gospel

Jesus spent most of His ministry not in the synagogue, but in the marketplace. He talked to tax collectors, fishermen, and political revolutionaries. He didn't separate His spiritual message from the real world concerns of the people around Him. He met them where they were and showed them how God's kingdom applied to every area of their lives.

Today's marketplace looks different, but the need remains the same. Our coworkers need to see integrity lived out in board meetings. Our neighbors need to witness love in action during community crises. Our elected officials need to hear from citizens who vote based on biblical principles, not just political party loyalty.

When we wear our faith openly, when we speak truth boldly, when we live out our convictions consistently, we're not being divisive. We're being disciples. We're answering the same call that Isaiah answered centuries ago.

Wearing Your Faith

Sometimes the simplest acts of courage make the biggest impact. Wearing a shirt that declares "Here I Am" with Isaiah 6:8 might seem like a small thing, but it's actually a powerful statement. It tells the world that you're available to God's call. It opens doors for conversations about faith. It reminds you throughout the day that you belong to something bigger than yourself.

 

Our inspirational collection includes designs that help believers wear their faith with pride and purpose. When you put on that "Here I Am" shirt, you're not just making a fashion statement. You're making a faith statement. You're declaring to everyone you meet that you serve the same God who called Isaiah, who guided Washington, and who still moves in the hearts of His people today.

The Time is Now

America stands at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of moral relativism and spiritual apathy, or we can remember who we are and Whose we are. We can keep our faith hidden behind church doors, or we can answer God's call to take His light into every dark corner of our society.

The choice is ours. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that staying silent is somehow more spiritual or more appropriate. Isaiah didn't stay silent. Jesus didn't stay silent. Our founding fathers didn't stay silent. And neither should we.

God is still asking the same question He asked in Isaiah's day: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" The question is whether we'll have the courage to answer like Isaiah: "Here am I! Send me!"

Your Call to Action

If you're tired of watching our culture drift away from biblical values, if you're ready to take your faith beyond Sunday morning, if you're willing to be part of the solution rather than a silent observer, then it's time to step up.

Start by wearing your faith boldly. Let our "Here I Am" Isaiah 6:8 shirt be your daily reminder that God has called you for such a time as this. Visit our inspirational collection and find the perfect way to declare your availability to God's calling.

But don't stop there. Look for opportunities in your workplace, your community, and your daily life to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Speak up for truth when others stay silent. Show love when others show hatred. Be the light in dark places.

America needs believers who are willing to say, "Here am I, Lord. Send me." The question is: Are you ready to answer that call?

The time for silence is over. The time for action is now. Here you are, Lord. Send you.