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In the book of Isaiah, we find a beautiful promise of gladness and joy. Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a redeemed and restored people. It’s a passage that reminds us of the incredible hope we have in the Lord, even in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations.
The Journey of Redemption
Isaiah 35 speaks of a journey, a journey of redemption. In life, we all experience moments when our path seems rugged and our hearts heavy. We encounter deserts of despair, where hope appears distant, and joy feels elusive. But the beauty of this passage is that it reminds us that the journey doesn’t end in the desert.
Here at the home for needy children in Oaxaca, Mexico, I see children everyday whose lives were nothing but deserts of despair and hope and joy were only a distant dream. But God’s hand was on their lives and their journey brought them here, an oasis in their wilderness. Here they encounter the love of God and begin to enjoy happiness and hope. They encounter redemption.
The Destination of Joy
Isaiah prophesies that the redeemed will return to Zion with singing. Imagine the joyous procession, voices raised in praise, hearts overflowing with gratitude. This is a picture of our ultimate destination as believers. No matter how challenging the road may be, it leads to a place of eternal joy in the presence of the Lord.
Everlasting Joy
One of the most comforting aspects of this passage is the promise of everlasting joy. In a world where happiness can be fleeting and temporary, God offers us a joy that knows no end. It’s not based on circumstances but on our relationship with Him. This joy is a wellspring deep within us, sourced from the love and grace of our heavenly Father.
Gladness and Joy Overtake Sorrow
Isaiah also tells us that gladness and joy will overtake us, while sorrow and sighing will flee away. This is a powerful image of the transformative power of God’s love. No matter how heavy our burdens, no matter how deep our sorrows, God’s joy has the power to overwhelm them.
The kids here at Casa Hogar have come out of a multitude of desert experiences and have taken God’s promises to heart and are experiencing new lives filled with joy and peace. Today, let us all take these promises to heart. In our own desert experiences, let us remember that our journey doesn’t end there. We are on a path of redemption, and it leads to a place of everlasting joy. Even in the midst of challenges, we can experience God’s gladness and joy overtaking our sorrows.
As we meditate on Isaiah 35:10, let us hold fast to our faith. Let us trust in the Lord’s promises, knowing that He is faithful to bring us through the desert into a place of abundant joy. May this joy be our strength and our song, and may it shine brightly in our lives, drawing others to the hope we have in Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul writes that our “light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory” and this emphasis on achieving a greater purpose becomes a pivotal message for believers. Through the struggles we endure, God is achieving something profound in our lives.
At the home for needy children where I live here in Oaxaca, Mexico, some of the staff members have dogs. Most of the dogs are relatively quiet, but one of the dogs really barks a lot, and it drives me crazy! I’m the gardener here, and anytime I am working in the vicinity of this animal, it goes off barking at me. This is a light and momentary trouble for me. It bothers me and sometimes makes me angry. But lately I have had a change of attitude. After meditating on 2 Corinthians 4:17 I have come to realize that the noisy dog is achieving for me an eternal glory. I have come to see that a lot of things that get on my nerves are really light and momentary troubles that are achieving for me a future glory.
People who work out like to say “no pain, no gain.” It seems Paul is saying “no troubles, no glory.” I have a feeling that what Paul means by light and momentary troubles, and what I mean are two different things. I think Paul was probably considering his troubles which he spoke of in verses 8 and 9: hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. These are a little more serious issues than a barking dog, but both work towards achieving an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs the problems.
As we face challenges and difficulties, it is easy to become disheartened and lose sight of the bigger picture. However, Paul’s inspired words call us to see beyond our immediate circumstances. God is not simply allowing us to endure hardships for the sake of it; rather, He is achieving a divine purpose through every trial we face.
By using the word “achieving,” Paul assures us that our struggles are not in vain. In the midst of our pain, God is at work, refining our character, deepening our faith, and molding us into vessels that reflect His glory. Through every trial, God is accomplishing His sovereign plan for our lives, guiding us towards eternal perfection in Christ.
Therefore, as believers, we can find hope and encouragement in the knowledge that God’s hand is on our lives, carefully orchestrating each circumstance for our ultimate good and His glory. With this perspective, we can persevere with unwavering faith, trusting that what the “achieving” God has in store for us surpasses any earthly trouble we might face.
Let us, then, fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and embrace the light and momentary troubles that come our way, whether it be noisy dogs or hard nosed persecutors, knowing that God’s divine purpose is being fulfilled through them. As we press on, confident in His power at work within us, we can rejoice in the promise of eternal glory that awaits all who endure with faith and hope in the midst of life’s trials.
To Enjoy God 