The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 NIV
God knows life can be hard for us to handle. He knows there are many circumstances that can break our hearts, a broken relationship, the death of a loved one, a feared diagnosis, abuse, victimization, the list goes on and on. Jesus was sent to bind up the brokenhearted. He wants to help you put the pieces back together again. Will you surrender to Him and trust Him to do that? Perhaps you’re trapped in a cycle of sin, captive to it’s lure and unable to break free. If that’s where you live, no one needs to describe to you the darkness that accompanies sin. You’ve been imprisoned by it long enough to understand the horror of a life apart from the light of righteous living. Jesus wants to set you free and release you from the prison of darkness. Will you surrender to Him and trust Him to do that?
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn. And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:2-3a NIV
If you’ve been enduring a season of mourning, know that Jesus wants to be the One who comforts you. He wants to restore your joy, in fact, He wants you to experience more joy than you ever have, and He wants to replace your spirit of despair with joyful praise! Will you turn to Him alone for comfort and trust that His joy is all you need?
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:3b-4 NIV
If you’ve been more like a struggling seedling, wilting in the heat of the sun, than a mighty oak tree, take heart, God wants to change that! He desires to touch your life and make you into an example of strength that will display His splendor and show the world just how awesome He is. He wants to use you to rebuild your life, your future, your family. Perhaps you feel like the devastation is just too great, everything is ruined. Maybe the issue you struggle with has been present in your family for generations. Even if everyone else has looked at your ruined life and given up hope, God hasn’t! He has the power to rebuild the ruins and restore places long devastated!
Jesus came to give us hope! Your heart is not broken beyond God’s ability to heal. Will you surrender control to Him? Will you set aside all the other ways you’ve been using to dull the pain and just cry out to Him?