Our three children and their family members are at various places in their respective spiritual journeys. Without their permission, I will not post their stories, but I can say that sometimes I am very concerned about them. Besides needing to walk more closely with the Lord (no different than anyone else) they have problems ranging from loneliness, horrendous stress at work, suddenly being out of work, difficulties with their own children, depression, and even thoughts of suicide.
I didn’t sleep well the past two nights. Yesterday’s prayers focused mostly on these things. God says not to be anxious, to bring everything to Him with thanksgiving, and He will give me peace (Philippians 4), yet I’ve had a hard time with the thanksgiving part, and no peace at all.
This morning, He decided to help me with that. Today’s reading is, again, comfort food. It is a promise made to Israel, yet it reveals the heart of God and speaks to me about His concern for my family and His power to do something for them. This passage is in Isaiah 54.
“O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
The Lord knows I’m not much for gems and fancy stones, but the last part definitely hits the target. He will teach all my children. He will give them peace. He says so. They might have to go through trials—no, they WILL have to go through trials—to learn to bring everything to Him, with thanksgiving, but His promise is the same for them as it is for me; the peace we seek is from the Lord. It is only a prayer away.
1 comment:
Those words from Isaiah are comfort food for me too.
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