Himself

 "To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Isaiah 61:3

We live in a fallen and broken world and grief and sorrow are real and terrible consequences of that world. All of us will come face to face with sorrow. The great tragedy in what is already a tragedy is that so many will come to it and live in it....alone. Yes, there will be friends and family who console us, but will have their own lives and sorrows to deal with. After some time, they'll move on. Our grief will not. This is why the above verse from Isaiah is so powerful, because it is so true.

I have come to see this verse in a much deeper way of late. We tend to read it as God giving us something to counter our pain. Doing something that deadens it or makes it go away. I understand this verse, and I think correctly, as doing something far greater than that. In it's promise, He gives us Himself. He pours Himself not just over our grief, but into it. Into us. Into our mourning He comes. He is our consolation and comfort. He is the beauty that takes the place of the ashes of our loss. He is the joy that resonates in our hearts and spirit in the deepest places of our suffering. He is the Praise of the Kingdom of God that overwhelms the spirit of heaviness and darkness. He gives Himself, and He doesn't remove Himself from us. He promises to never leave or forsake us. Others will, no matter how well intentioned they may be. He will be a permanent presence and Almighty counter force in the midst of our suffering. He will not cease the giving of Himself in the midst of all that we face in life.This is the beauty of the Gospel. He gave Himself for us and He gives Himself to us. Every moment of every day, He gives Himself to you and to me. 

Wherever you are on your journey, whatever your need may be, He longs to show you the power of His promise. He will be your portion. He will be your consolation. He will be your healing. He gives Himself to yourself. Will you receive Him? Will you discover how rich and deep this promise is? How rich and deep all His promises are.

Blessings,
Pastor O