Have you ever felt like you've woken up to a new awareness to the world around you?
That's where I'm at right now. I've woken up to pain. I see it in people's faces. I hear it in their stories. I feel it when we hug.
There are so many people going through something painful and most of us never know it.
Everyone just passes by one another with a smile or a nod or a quick "how are you" all the while never seeing the pain.
In my blog post "A Conversation About Death", I told you about my neighbor who has been overcoming breast cancer and my conversation with her. (That was several weeks ago)
Since that time, God has connected me with several people who are going through extremely painful experiences:
A couple who lost their son to suicide
Another neighbor who just found out that she might have breast cancer
And a friend who shared how she's been since her husband has been fighting cancer.
So much pain.
But there is something good available...
There is comfort for all of this pain and I recently rediscovered it in Isaiah 61.
Jesus's purpose is to heal the brokenhearted, to comfort all who mourn, to give us a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair, and so much more!
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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV
The mighty Spirit of Lord Yahweh is wrapped around me
because Yahweh has anointed me, as a messenger to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to heal the wounds of the brokenhearted, to tell captives, “You are free,” and to tell prisoners, “Be free from your darkness.” I am sent to announce a new season of Yahweh’s grace and a time of God’s recompense on his enemies, to comfort all who are in sorrow, to strengthen those crushed by despair who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful bouquet in the place of ashes, the oil of bliss instead of tears, and the mantle of joyous praise instead of the spirit of heaviness. Because of this, they will be known as Mighty Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Yahweh as a living display of his glory.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Passion Translation
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There is healing available for the pain in the world around us in the pages of the Bible.
In my last blog "The Day I "Lost "It"", I spoke about how I made (and still am making it) through. God's word is a major part of that.
If you are going through something painful right now, I want you to know that there is comfort for your pain available to you right now.
All any of us have to do is ask.
Jesus,
I can't do this alone. The pain is too much to bear. I need you in my life. I need your comfort to come and wrap around me and accomplish what you've said you will do. Come and heal my broken heart. I'm trusting in your word God. I trust you.
Amen.