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Comfort Ye My People

Exiles who felt forgotten heard that the tireless Creator knows them by name and renews all who wait on Him

  • 📖 Adult Sunday School
  • Week 40
  • 📅 Sunday, October 4, 2026
🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When we feel that our way is hidden from the Lord, Isaiah answers with a God great enough to hold the oceans in His hand and tender enough to carry lambs in His arms; He has not forgotten us, and He renews the strength of all who wait on Him.

I can take my honest feelings of being overlooked to the Lord, trust that He knows me by name, and help someone else feel remembered.

Study it yourself firstRead Isaiah 40–49 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Isaiah 40–49)
Know the chapters

Isaiah 40 opens a new section of the book with one word the rest of it keeps returning to: “Comfort.” These chapters speak to Judah’s future exiles in Babylon, people who would see Jerusalem and its temple destroyed (about 586 BC) and would wonder whether God had walked away from them. Isaiah even names Cyrus, the Persian king who would conquer Babylon in 539 BC and let the Jews go home to rebuild (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1; Ezra 1:1–4). Nephi had chapters 48–49 on the brass plates before the exile ever happened and read them to his family (1 Nephi 19:23; 20–21), and the risen Savior told the Nephites that “great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1).

This lesson centers on Isaiah 40, one of the great chapters of the Old Testament. It moves in a deliberate arc: a message of pardon (40:1–2), a voice preparing a highway for the Lord in the desert (40:3–5), which all four Gospels apply to John the Baptist (see Luke 3:2–6), the fading grass beside the enduring word (40:6–8), a Shepherd carrying lambs (40:11), and then page after page of God’s sheer greatness: the oceans in the hollow of His hand, the nations “as a drop of a bucket,” every star called by name (40:12, 15, 26). All of that builds to the people’s real complaint, “My way is hid from the Lord” (40:27), and the Lord’s answer in verses 28–31.

Two word notes help adults with 40:31. The Hebrew verb behind “wait upon” carries the sense of hopeful expectation, looking eagerly toward someone, not sitting idle. And the word translated “renew” can also mean “exchange”: those who wait on the Lord trade their spent strength for His. Notice the order, too: mount up, run, walk. Some seasons feel like flying. Many ordinary weeks are simply walking and not fainting, and Isaiah counts that as a promise kept.

The rest of the block is rich with the same comfort: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (41:10); a Servant who will not break a bruised reed (42:3); “when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee” (43:2); the sharp satire of a man who bakes bread over half a log and bows to the other half (44:9–20); idols that have to be carried, set beside a God who carries us “even to hoar hairs” (46:1–4); refining “in the furnace of affliction” (48:10); and names graven on the palms of His hands (49:16). Twenty-five minutes won’t hold them all; read Isaiah 40 well and let the class find the rest this week.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Isaiah 40 and 49:13–16 once. Open by asking whether God’s greatness makes people feel comforted or small. Read Isaiah 40:27–31 together and spend most of the time on the My Way Is Hid questions. Close by reading Isaiah 49:15–16, inviting a testimony or two, and asking each person to help one person feel remembered this week.

What to bring2 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Read Isaiah 40 aloud to yourself once, slowly. Mark verses 1, 8, 11, 15, 26, 27 and 31; they carry the lesson.
  2. Ask two people ahead of time to read: a Herald for Isaiah 40:3–5 and a Reader for 40:6–8 and 40:12, 15. A quick text on Saturday is plenty.
  3. Read Isaiah 49:13–16 and think of a time you felt forgotten and later learned you weren’t. If the room is quiet, your story opens the door.
  4. Pick the two or three discussion questions you most want to reach. You won’t have time for all of them, and that’s fine.
  5. Because this is General Conference weekend, decide ahead of time how you’ll use this plan: a family night, a study group, or pieces saved for another week.

Discussion tips

  • Quiet class? Give a minute of silence to scan Isaiah 40 for one phrase that stands out, then ask a few people to read just their phrase aloud. It warms the room without anyone having to explain Isaiah.
  • One voice filling every pause? Thank them warmly, then send the next question to pairs first so everyone gets to talk before anyone speaks to the room.
  • Someone may be in a season where it truly feels like “my way is hid from the Lord.” Don’t rush to correct it. The Lord Himself let Israel say it in verse 27 before He answered. Thank people for honest answers.
  • If someone says they have waited on the Lord for years and still feel weary, honor that. Point out that the verse ends with walking, not flying, and that a promise of not fainting is still a promise. You don’t have to resolve it in class; you can sit with it and testify.
  • Visitors and new members: say plainly that Isaiah is poetry and hard for everyone, show the references on the shared screen, and never ask anyone to read aloud without checking first.

The 25-minute plan25 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Each “On the screen” line is what the class sees on a shared screen in Teach Mode in the Gospel Sparks app; on paper, read it aloud or write it on the board. On the web you can play Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

A Drop of a Bucket

3 min

Opens with a real question about God’s greatness: does it comfort us, or make us feel invisible?

  1. Hold up the glass of water. Dip a fingertip in it and let a single drop fall back in.
  2. Read Isaiah 40:15: to the Lord, “the nations are as a drop of a bucket.”
  3. Ask: “When you think about how vast God is, does it comfort you, or does it make you feel small and easy to overlook?”
  4. Give 20 seconds of quiet, then take two or three answers. Both reactions are honest.
  5. SAY“Isaiah’s first readers were exiles who felt exactly that. Let’s see how the Lord answered them.”

On the screen: 💧 Does God’s greatness comfort you, or make you feel small?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A clear glass of water (for the hook)

Picture the Drop

  1. Ask everyone to picture a full bucket of water and a single drop running down the outside of it.
  2. Read Isaiah 40:15: to the Lord, “the nations are as a drop of a bucket.”
  3. Ask: “When you think about how vast God is, does it comfort you, or make you feel small and easy to overlook?”
  4. Take two or three answers, then say: “Isaiah’s first readers felt exactly that. Let’s see how the Lord answered them.”
2. Story

Read It in Context: Comfort in Exile

6 min

Reads Isaiah 40 as a message to real, grieving people so its promises land with weight.

  1. Open Teach Mode to the scripture scene. The shared screen shows one scene at a time.
  2. Read each scene’s context yourself, then let the assigned voices read the verses. You read the Lord’s words; no one is assigned to speak as the Lord.
  3. Keep it moving: context, verses, next scene. Save comments for the discussion.
  4. After scene 6, let a few seconds of silence sit before moving on.

On the screen: 🕊️ Isaiah 40: comfort for exiles who felt that God had forgotten them · Follow along in Isaiah 40:1–31

3. Scripture

Wait, Renew, Walk

4 min

Studies Isaiah 40:31 closely so class members find its promise for ordinary, tired weeks.

  1. Put Isaiah 40:31 on the shared screen and read it slowly.
  2. Share the two word notes: “wait upon” means hopeful expectation, looking toward someone; “renew” can also mean “exchange.” Ask: “What changes when you read it as ‘exchange their strength’?”
  3. Point out the order: mount up, run, walk. Ask: “Why might Isaiah end with walking instead of flying?”
  4. With the person next to you: which of the three describes your season right now?
  5. Share Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s promise about waiting (in “From general conference” below).

On the screen: 🦅 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. · Isaiah 40:31 · Mount up. Run. Walk. Which is your season?

4. Talk it over

My Way Is Hid

5 min

Helps adults bring the honest feeling of being overlooked to the Lord and hear His answer.

  1. Pick two or three questions; don’t try to cover all of them.
  2. Start the third question in pairs: one minute with a neighbor, then a few share with the room.
  3. Let silence work. Count to seven in your head before rescuing a question.
  4. If the room is quiet, share your own experience first.
💬 Ask the class
  • Verse 27 records Israel’s complaint word for word. Why do you think the Lord let that honest feeling stand in scripture?
  • Isaiah answers with God’s greatness (verses 12, 22, 26) and His gentleness (verse 11). Why do we need both when we feel overlooked?
  • Verse 26 says He calls every star by name and “not one faileth.” When have you felt known by name? (Talk with a neighbor first.)
  • Verse 29 says He gives power to the faint. What does that power look like in real life, in a hospital room, a hard marriage or a long job search?

On the screen: ✨ He calls every star by name. Not one is missing, and neither are you. · Isaiah 40:26–29

5. Talk it over

Graven upon His Palms

4 min

Moves from Isaiah 40 to the Lord’s most personal promise in the block, and to remembering others.

  1. Ask a volunteer to read Isaiah 49:13–16 while the class follows along.
  2. SAY“Zion says the same thing Israel said in chapter 40: I’ve been forgotten. Listen to how the Lord answers this time.”
  3. Ask one or two questions, then move to the testimony on time.
💬 Ask the class
  • Why do you think the Lord compared His love to a nursing mother’s, and then said His love is even more certain?
  • What is the difference between a name written on something and a name graven into it?
  • Many think of the Savior’s wounded hands when they read verse 16. How does that connection change the verse for you?
  • Who around us may feel forgotten right now, and what would help them feel remembered?

On the screen: ✋ “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” · Isaiah 49:13–16

6. Testimony

He Carries the Lambs

3 min

Ends with testimony of Jesus Christ as the Shepherd who knows and carries each person, and an invitation for the week.

  1. Read Isaiah 40:11 again, slowly.
  2. Invite one or two people to share, in a sentence or two, a time the Lord renewed their strength or showed them they weren’t forgotten.
  3. Bear a short testimony that Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of Isaiah 40, that He knows each person by name, and that He has not forgotten anyone in the room.
  4. Invite: “This week, when you feel unseen, take it to Him honestly. And help one person who may feel forgotten know that they are remembered.”

On the screen: 🐑 He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. · Isaiah 40:11 · This week: tell Him honestly. Help one person feel remembered.

7. Talk it over

Cyrus, Called by Name

5 minBONUS

Shows the Lord directing history on behalf of His people, naming a deliverer long before he was born.

  1. Read Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1, where the Lord names Cyrus as the one who will say to Jerusalem, “Thou shalt be built.”
  2. Read Ezra 1:1–3, where Cyrus of Persia lets the Jews return to build the temple.
  3. Read Isaiah 45:4: the Lord called Cyrus by name “though thou hast not known me.”
  4. Ask one or two questions.
💬 Ask the class
  • What does it tell you about the Lord that He was preparing a way home before His people had even left?
  • Cyrus didn’t know the Lord, yet the Lord used him. Where have you seen the Lord work through unexpected people?
  • What “exile” in your life might the Lord already be preparing a way out of?

On the screen: 👑 The Lord named a king who would send His people home. · Isaiah 44:28; 45:1–4 · Ezra 1:1–3

8. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A light, friendly review if you finish early or use this lesson at home.

  1. Split the room (or the family) into two teams.
  2. Launch Scripture Showdown on your phone or tablet and read each question aloud.
  3. After each reveal, read the reference so people can mark it.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

On the screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown: how well do you know Isaiah 40–49?

Read it together

Comfort Ye My People

Isaiah 40:1–31 ↗

Reading parts

  • HeraldReads Isaiah 40:3–5, the voice preparing a highway in the desert.
  • ReaderReads Isaiah 40:6–8 (the grass and the word) and later 40:12, 15 (the oceans in His hand).
  • The ClassEveryone reads the people’s complaint together: Isaiah 40:27.

Scenes

  1. ⛓️ Exiles far from home

    Picture people who have lost everything. Jerusalem is rubble, the temple is burned, and they live as captives in Babylon, hundreds of miles from home. Isaiah wrote to them more than a century before they were born.

    🎬 The teacher reads this context. No scripture yet; let the class feel the loss.

  2. 🕊️ “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people”

    After chapters of warning, the tone changes completely. The first words are tender: speak to her heart, her hard service is over, her sins are pardoned.

    🎬 The teacher reads Isaiah 40:1–2.

  3. 🛤️ A highway for our God

    A voice calls for a road through the desert: valleys raised, mountains leveled, so the Lord can come to His people. Centuries later, all four Gospels apply this voice to John the Baptist.

    🎬 The Herald reads Isaiah 40:3–5.

  4. 🌾 The grass withers; the word stands

    Everything human fades like wildflowers in the heat, including empires like Babylon. One thing lasts.

    🎬 The Reader reads Isaiah 40:6–8.

  5. 🐑 A Shepherd who measures the oceans

    Isaiah sets two pictures side by side: a shepherd gathering lambs in his arms, and a God who holds the oceans in His hand and sees the nations as a drop in a bucket.

    🎬 The teacher reads Isaiah 40:10–11. The Reader reads verses 12 and 15.

  6. 🦅 “My way is hid from the Lord”

    Then the people’s real worry comes out: God is great, but He doesn’t see me. The Lord answers the complaint directly.

    🎬 The Class reads Isaiah 40:27 together. The teacher reads verses 28–31. Let a few seconds of quiet follow.

Key verse

Isaiah 40:31 ↗
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
In plain words: People who look to the Lord in hopeful trust exchange their tired strength for His. Some days that means soaring, some days running, and many days simply walking without giving up.

More verses

Isaiah 40:11 ↗
“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
In plain words: The same God who rules the universe carries the weakest of His flock close to His heart and sets His pace for those who can’t move fast.
Isaiah 43:2 ↗
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
In plain words: The Lord doesn’t promise we’ll never face deep water or fire. He promises we won’t face them alone, and they won’t destroy us.
Isaiah 44:22 ↗
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”
In plain words: Our sins can vanish like a cloud burning off in the morning sun. The Lord has already paid to redeem us; He asks us to come back.
Isaiah 49:15–16 ↗
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”
In plain words: Even a mother’s love can fail, but the Lord’s can’t. He has engraved us on His hands, and we are always before Him.

Scripture Showdown6 questions

  1. What is the first word of Isaiah 40?
    • A. Behold
    • B. Comfort
    • C. Hear
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Comfort Isaiah 40:1: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”

  2. In Isaiah 40:15, the nations are like what?
    • A. A drop of a bucket
    • B. Sand on the shore
    • C. Leaves in autumn
    Show answer

    ✅ A. A drop of a bucket “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.”

  3. What did Israel complain in Isaiah 40:27?
    • A. The way is too long
    • B. The law is too hard
    • C. My way is hid from the Lord
    Show answer

    ✅ C. My way is hid from the Lord “Why sayest thou, O Jacob… My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?”

  4. Which king did Isaiah name as the one who would let Jerusalem be rebuilt?
    • A. Nebuchadnezzar
    • B. Cyrus
    • C. Hezekiah
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Cyrus Isaiah 44:28; 45:1. Cyrus of Persia let the Jews return home (Ezra 1:1–3).

  5. Where has the Lord graven His people, according to Isaiah 49:16?
    • A. On tablets of stone
    • B. On the temple walls
    • C. Upon the palms of His hands
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Upon the palms of His hands “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

  6. In Isaiah 48:10, where does the Lord say He has chosen His people?
    • A. In the furnace of affliction
    • B. In the house of the Lord
    • C. In the land of promise
    Show answer

    ✅ A. In the furnace of affliction “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

From general conference

“Whether that be a short period or a long one is not always ours to say, but by the grace of God, the blessings will come to those who hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

— Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Waiting on the Lord,” October 2020

Share in Wait, Renew, Walk, after the class talks about which season they are in.

Read the talk ↗

Songs

  • How Firm a Foundation Hymns, no. 85

    Its verses draw on Isaiah 41:10 and 43:2, two of this week’s great “fear not” promises. Find it ↗

  • I Know That My Redeemer Lives Hymns, no. 136

    A hymn of the living Redeemer who comforts and strengthens, the answer to “my way is hid.” Find it ↗

This week’s invitation

Remembered by Name

When you feel unseen this week, take it to the Lord honestly, the way Israel did in Isaiah 40:27, and then read verses 28–31. And help one person who may feel forgotten know they are remembered: a call, a note or a visit.

Take it home

This week we read Isaiah 40: comfort for exiles who felt forgotten. The God who holds the oceans in His hand also carries lambs in His arms (Isaiah 40:11–12), and He renews the strength of all who wait on Him (40:31). Take it home: read Isaiah 49:15–16 together and talk about how you know the Lord remembers you.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🪵 Half a Log · 4 min

  1. Read Isaiah 44:14–17: a man bakes bread over half a log and bows to the other half.
  2. Read verse 20 and ask: “What does it mean to have ‘a lie in my right hand’?”
  3. Ask: “What good, useful things are we tempted to ask to save us?”

🐂 Carried or Carrying · 4 min

  1. Read Isaiah 46:1–2: Babylon’s idols have to be loaded onto weary animals and hauled away.
  2. Read Isaiah 46:3–4: the Lord carries His people from birth “even to hoar hairs.”
  3. Ask: “Which things in our lives do we have to carry, and which carry us?”

🛤️ The Voice in the Wilderness · 4 min

  1. Read Isaiah 40:3–5, then Luke 3:2–6, where Luke applies it to John the Baptist.
  2. Ask: “What valleys need raising and what mountains need leveling in us to prepare for the Lord?”
  3. Read Doctrine and Covenants 33:10, where the Lord repeats the call in our day.

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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