Sunday, December 15, 2024 // Day 15
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. —Isaiah 35:1–10
THE RETURN OF THE RANSOMED
The term “Advent” can be defined as the arrival of a person of significance. This concept is present in both the beginning of God’s wonderful plan and the eventual arrival of the Messiah. The birth of Jesus Christ peels back the layers of a theme we are all familiar with: waiting on the Lord.
This past year, our family has been hard pressed on every side. From unforeseen health issues, to death and loss, to more moments of intense grief than we can count. Many days were spent crying out and wishing it would all just stop. I think back to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God if there is any other way than this. These thorns have been in our side for almost a year. Although we feel the extra weight of these burdens, the Lord has given us strength to endure. He has given us hands to carry, feet to run, words to encourage, and grace to give us hope. Romans 5 tells us that hope is nothing to be ashamed of. It is often the product of suffering, as God provides us with strength through the struggles we face.
The earth waited a long time for Jesus’ arrival. His birth signified a new beginning. He turned mourning into dancing. He turned silence into shouts of praise. He gave the weak strength and helped the blind to see. He conquered death so that we could have life. For us, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Let us remember the Gospel message and how it once captivated our hearts when we first leapt with joy and gladness. Let us remember that this Gospel still pours out mercy and grace from the Father, offering true freedom.
Let us also consider the path Jesus walked. Even if you find yourself walking a path that is full of unforeseen circumstances like we have this year, remember that there is a narrow road ahead where we all will join together on the pathway of the redeemed. On this path, we march toward a glory that far outweighs our light and momentary afflictions and surpasses our understanding.
“Though there may be pain in the night, joy comes in the morning.”
And He can give you that joy again!
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis