Shout with joy, everything in the sky! Be happy, everything on the earth! Sing loudly, you mountains! Be happy, because the Lord comforts his people. He will be kind to his people who have trouble and pain.

Isaiah 49:13 EASY

Trouble and pain. We can’t escape it. Oh, but we try. We may lie or blame someone else to deflect trouble away from us. We may avoid dealing with conflict or stress by distracting ourselves. I can clean really well when I’m procrastinating. Sometimes shopping, social media or television are my diversions. 

Eventually we have to face our problems and pain. The good news is we don’t have to do it alone. God is with us all the time. He comforts his people. Isaiah knew it. 

Jesus knew, also. He said, Happy are the people who are sad now. God will come near to help them (Matthew 5:4 EASY).

How does God come near to help and comfort his people? For me, he supplied Isaiah 49:13 in my morning devotional. I needed a reminder that he was with me and knew all about my troubles.

For a friend who lost both of her parents within a couple of weeks, God worked through his people to comfort her. She received flowers, notes, and gifts. On a visit to a routine dental appointment, she met a woman who had a very similar story. They talked, cried and prayed together. She knew this was a divine appointment from God.

Perhaps you are still in pain. Maybe your troubles seem to be getting worse instead of better. Does it appear that God has forgotten you? Do you feel alone? God’s people in Isaiah’s time thought so. They said, The Lord has left us alone. The Lord has forgotten about us (Isaiah 49:13 EASY).

May I remind you how important you are to God? I would not ever forget you, Zion. (Feel free to insert your name, also.) Look! I have written your name on my hand (Isaiah 49:13 EASY). You are never alone.

Terri