..:contro:..

Went to the adoration room last night… Was prompted to bring my bible and somehow this particular bible passage came up…

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

- Isaiah 40:1-11

I was feeling particularly down yesterday, and I prayed to God for clarity, for strength, and for him to show me what he wanted me to do. Doubts seemed to consume my entire being, and I was feeling rather stifled with fear, with this reluctance to move, with this contentment with the status quo.

Of course, this was not meant to be…

When I prayed over this passage, I felt oddly comforted at the end… What shall I cry? “Here is your God!” Your God, like a shepherd who forgives, who has a deep compassion for his chosen people: “Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, do not fear!”

I was reminded of the loving mercy of God, of him, the Shepherd and I the sheep.

God, I pray that I be as docile as a sheep, totally dependent on your guidance and protection. Help me to surrender my pride, to level my mountains and lift my valleys, to make straight the way. I know you can come to me any time you wish to, but this making straight the way is for me to go to you easier and smoother… Amen.