Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31
I use to keep this verse on a sticky note tucked nicely inside my tennis shoes. I wrote this scripture on the bottom of my track shoes while I ran on the high school track team. I etched this scripture into the inside of my grips that adorned my hands as a competitive gymnast. A nurse wrote this scripture on my physical therapy orders after being hospitalized with a serious neck and back injury. I wrote this scripture in my diary the day my grandmother passed away. I was given a key chain she use to carry with this scripture engraved on it. This scripture is mine. I am sure of it. I am sure when this passage was written; these two verses were written for me.
And today, this scripture can still be found written on a sticky note and neatly folded and tucked into any pair of my shoes on any given day. This scripture is one that I hope to tattoo on my body in a very girly and elegant way one day. This scripture is mine, it was written for me, it speaks to me and I cannot live without it.
Much like a good pair of tennis shoes, I cannot live without this scripture. Much like a nice comfortable, worn in pair of jeans and a ratty old sweat shirt, I am at home within these pages of scripture. Much like my morning coffee, specifically, a White Chocolate Mocha with a few extra pumps of chocolate, whip cream on top and made from whole milk, I cannot function without this scripture. Much like a Mnt. Dew, I am revived by this scripture come late afternoon. And much like my comfortable bed and very valuable pillow, I find peace with in the words of this scripture. It is mine. I was written for me and I cannot live without it.
But lately, I have needed just a little more. So I started with the very first verse of this chapter. My Bible is very warn and naturally falls open to this page, I have highlighted, written prayers in the margins and stained these pages with my tears. This chapter is personal to me.
So as I begin I notice something I at times over look. I notice the description of this chapter, it is four simple words that I hardly read during my time within the word, but this time, it jumped out at me.
The description reads: Comfort for God's People. I nearly lost it emotionally when I came across that as I searched for a little piece of Jesus one day at work. I often visit the website known as Bible Gateway when I need a mid-day dose of Jesus, and it was on this day that I needed some comfort and ran to my most beloved passage, and true to it’s description, it brought comfort to me, one of His people. I walked through this chapter verse by verse. The scripture that I have included below is from the NIV translation and you will find my journaling’s under each passage that speaks to me.
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
I praise you Jesus for your comfort. I am humbled by the price you have paid for me. I am speechless as I think back on the events of that day, the blood that was shred for me.
3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
At this moment in time I feel like I have landed in the middle of the desert and at times I am over come with fear because it feels as if you are far from me. I feel alone. I feel unprotected, I feel as if I am just standing in the open desert waiting for an animal to attack me and take me off as his afternoon snack. I am afraid. I am worried and anxious and alone.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
In the midst of my time in the desert, you are still God, you are still good and you are still my savior. You will make my rough ground level. You will keep my feet steady and my heart steadfast over you. I trust you. I will proclaim the glory that is yours, even in the midst of my desert place.
6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
My desert place will not last. My anxious nights will pass and my despair will be distant. Your word says so, and your word says that it will stand forever. Those very words bring life into my soul. Tears of joy stream down my face with joy. The grass may wither and the flowers may fall, just like my time in the desert will pass, but your word proclaims that it will stand forever. And for that, I will praise you.
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him.See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
The power in your word leaves me speechless. The Sovereign LORD comes with power. His arm rules for him and his reward is with him, I cannot help but think that you are speaking about your son, my Sweet Jesus there. I will find him in you and you in him. I want to find you in me and me in him. I want to take comfort in your sovereign power and I want to have the confidence that comes with knowing just how much power you have.
Well, my dear ones, we will leave off at verse 11.
Enjoy His Word until we meet again.
I love you!
And today, this scripture can still be found written on a sticky note and neatly folded and tucked into any pair of my shoes on any given day. This scripture is one that I hope to tattoo on my body in a very girly and elegant way one day. This scripture is mine, it was written for me, it speaks to me and I cannot live without it.
Much like a good pair of tennis shoes, I cannot live without this scripture. Much like a nice comfortable, worn in pair of jeans and a ratty old sweat shirt, I am at home within these pages of scripture. Much like my morning coffee, specifically, a White Chocolate Mocha with a few extra pumps of chocolate, whip cream on top and made from whole milk, I cannot function without this scripture. Much like a Mnt. Dew, I am revived by this scripture come late afternoon. And much like my comfortable bed and very valuable pillow, I find peace with in the words of this scripture. It is mine. I was written for me and I cannot live without it.
But lately, I have needed just a little more. So I started with the very first verse of this chapter. My Bible is very warn and naturally falls open to this page, I have highlighted, written prayers in the margins and stained these pages with my tears. This chapter is personal to me.
So as I begin I notice something I at times over look. I notice the description of this chapter, it is four simple words that I hardly read during my time within the word, but this time, it jumped out at me.
The description reads: Comfort for God's People. I nearly lost it emotionally when I came across that as I searched for a little piece of Jesus one day at work. I often visit the website known as Bible Gateway when I need a mid-day dose of Jesus, and it was on this day that I needed some comfort and ran to my most beloved passage, and true to it’s description, it brought comfort to me, one of His people. I walked through this chapter verse by verse. The scripture that I have included below is from the NIV translation and you will find my journaling’s under each passage that speaks to me.
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
I praise you Jesus for your comfort. I am humbled by the price you have paid for me. I am speechless as I think back on the events of that day, the blood that was shred for me.
3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
At this moment in time I feel like I have landed in the middle of the desert and at times I am over come with fear because it feels as if you are far from me. I feel alone. I feel unprotected, I feel as if I am just standing in the open desert waiting for an animal to attack me and take me off as his afternoon snack. I am afraid. I am worried and anxious and alone.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
In the midst of my time in the desert, you are still God, you are still good and you are still my savior. You will make my rough ground level. You will keep my feet steady and my heart steadfast over you. I trust you. I will proclaim the glory that is yours, even in the midst of my desert place.
6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
My desert place will not last. My anxious nights will pass and my despair will be distant. Your word says so, and your word says that it will stand forever. Those very words bring life into my soul. Tears of joy stream down my face with joy. The grass may wither and the flowers may fall, just like my time in the desert will pass, but your word proclaims that it will stand forever. And for that, I will praise you.
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him.See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
The power in your word leaves me speechless. The Sovereign LORD comes with power. His arm rules for him and his reward is with him, I cannot help but think that you are speaking about your son, my Sweet Jesus there. I will find him in you and you in him. I want to find you in me and me in him. I want to take comfort in your sovereign power and I want to have the confidence that comes with knowing just how much power you have.
Well, my dear ones, we will leave off at verse 11.
Enjoy His Word until we meet again.
I love you!
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