Isaiah 54:1-6“Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth! You’re ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women.” God says so!“Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep.You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family.You’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed. Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.You’ll forget all about the humiliations of your youth, and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.For your Maker is your bridegroom, his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel, known as God of the whole earth.You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief, and God welcomed you back, Like a woman married young and then left,” says your God.Sometimes I feel like life has taken over. The consequences of my actions and my decisions are running away with my life. It feels like people surround me as on Chinese streets and just walking forward takes immense effort. I want to stop and notice things about me. I just want to take time. But I don’t feel like I can.My to-do list is long. My chores seem endless. My responsibilities and duties lie around every corner begging me to do something.And then I hear God say the most amazing thing. He says to me to not be afraid. I’m not going to be embarrassed. Don’t hold back. I’m not going to come up short.He beckons to me. “Walk this way, “ he says. I yearn to follow him because that is what I am made to do. But I worry because things haven’t always worked out.But then I remember, My Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He is the God of the whole earth. He is the God-of-the-Angel-Armies.Lord, today when I am feeling scared and lonely, let me feel your presence. Forgive me for doubting you and what you can do with my life. Help me to follow you today. Fill me with your love, your joy, and your peace. Keep my feet moving today.Show me what is on my list that I should do and what can wait. Help me add things to my list that you want me to do. And help me to stop and drink in the moments. Thank you for guiding me today.
