“…He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion ---to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)
Some of these words sure do jump out at me as I deal with chronic pain and illness! Broken-hearted, captives, prisoners, all who mourn, those who grieve, a spirit of despair.
I have felt, and some of you probably have as well, broken-hearted at times about having an illness that will never get better. The illness and pain do make me feel like I’m a captive, a prisoner, with choices taken away and limitations put on my body. I do mourn my old life, all that I did, all that I was, all the dreams and plans I had. I grieve over it, and I certainly have sometimes had a spirit of despair.
But other words in the above verses jump out at me as well. Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim freedom, release, the Lord’s favor, comfort, a crown of beauty, oil of gladness, a garment of praise.
How uplifting it is to think on these things. Wow! God is going to give me a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and He will give me a garment of praise in place of the despair I sometimes feel.
People in Bible times demonstrated their grief and mourning by rending their clothing and covering themselves with ashes. God sent Isaiah to be a help; He has sent Jesus to help us for all time. With Jesus we have the freedom to accept God’s favor, to receive His comfort. He will give us a crown of beauty in place of the ashes of our pain and illness; knowing He will give us the oil of gladness, we don’t have to mourn, and we are able to praise Him instead of letting despair take over our spirit.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Priscilla Ervin lives in Arlington, TX with chronic Epstein Barr, Fibromyalgia and other illnesses. She enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and needlework.
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