December 1:
Isaiah 40:1-5 “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 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. A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the
wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the
rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has
spoken."
Even though Christmas is my favorite
time of year, my heart is troubled as this Christmas season begins. If you have
read any of my previous posts, you know that this has been a trying year in
many ways. Now, we can family squabbles
to the list as well.
To make a long story short, my husband
and I are clashing with our 18 year old daughter, and we have arrived at a
critical juncture in which a decision must be made as to where she will live.
As her parents, we have established boundaries and expectations with regard to
living in our home, and she disagrees. Today
is a critical day. This is the day in which we and she decide if she will
remain living at home or move out.
It’s certainly not a great way to start
the Advent season – a time when we anticipate the arrival of a Savior.
The first part of today’s verse caught
my eye: “Comfort, comfort my people, says
your God.” The origin of the word, “comfort,” is actually two Latin roots: com, meaning “with,” and fort, meaning “with strength.” Thus, to
comfort someone is to provide strength and support.
Even though Judah still had 100 years
of trouble and captivity to go at the time when Isaiah issued this prophecy,
God threw them a bone by promising a Savior. Out of the desert of trials and
sufferings will come One who will ultimately remove obstacles and smoothen the
rough patches. These words of comfort were meant to strengthen the captives and
provide hope as the years of adversity would continue.
Even today, these words, and all of the
words in the Bible, are still meant to strengthen the captives (us) and provide
hope as the years of adversity continue.
Every year, we celebrate Advent with
the expressed intention of preparing our hearts for arrival and coming of a
Savior – the historical event as well as the return of Christ. While God’s Word
does not mean that we will escape adversity, it provides hope and strengthens
us until that day occurs.
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do
not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right
hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
It’s been a tough year, and the situation
with our daughter is a particularly low point.
Even so, we are comforted to know that God’s got this.
There will be mountains of adversity
that strain our muscles and leave our lungs burning from exertion. There will
be valleys of disappointment and discouragement – a place devoid of the warmth
of life-giving sunshine and light for our paths. There will be wastelands of
confusion and disillusionment where uneven, briar-filled ground will cause us
to twist ankles and fall. Yet, in the
end, there is a happy ending for believers. Even though it may take us a while
to connect the dots, we know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God knew what
He was doing every step of the way. “And
the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.”
Even in adversity, even when the
situation looks bleak, and even when it seems as though there are only walls
where windows and doors should be, God still has it all under control. He
allows adversity to build Christ-like character in His children, which is
ultimately for His glory. Truly, our only choice in these circumstances is
faith, and our only response should be gratitude that He cares so much for such
a one as me. “Give thanks to the Lord,
for He is good. His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).
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