The evening started out just as many others we've spent together, pleasant chatting, perhaps a game of some kind (I won! :), eating, more chatting, a fun movie (Emma!), dessert, etc... It was one of the most wonderful visits we've had in a long while...just the two of us. At points, we laughed ourselves silly while reminiscing or fumbling around, it was grand.
We didn't start back for my home until 12:50 a.m. During the short drive, we both began sharing sorrows and unburdening our hearts. We've been through so much in the past two years. Very hard, very sad things. We cried in each others arms all the while speaking encouraging words about God's providence. Simply letting things out, opening the flood-gates of tears helped to relieve our spirits.
We prayed, simple prayers. Thanking the Lord for His abundant blessings and His hand in our lives. Thanked Him for each other. The time was about 1:30 a.m. by then.
And at the end of it all, we laughed at our miserable looking state, puffy eyes, smudged makeup and the like. The sight of us was too much, the Lord gave us joy, sufficient for the moment. :)
Right around 2 a.m., I felt led to re-read Isaiah 61, a favorite passage of mine. I've gone through today thinking about these words and wanted to share them with you all.
Isaiah 61:1-3
1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
(italics mine)
My brother Isaac passed away on September 28th, 2007 after a non-survivable motorcycle accident. We were all shocked with grief. During these past two years, the Lord has used this chapter (and these verses specifically) to "bind up my broken heart."
And because of His unfailing and infinite goodness, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation..." (v. 10)
We have the assurance that all things, whether wonderful or seemingly horrific, will work to their ultimate end...the GLORY of God the Father!
11) For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
May it ever be! Receive the comfort of the Lord God. Amen.
~Anna
