Corona Devo 43

Ready for the gloom to stop hovering over you?  Ready for the darkness that is the Corona Quarantine to be filled with light?  

Me too!  

I was getting stuck in the Corona mire.  Of my mind mostly, but beyond the mental piece (which is not small!), there are physical and emotional pieces to this journey too.  And it can make us feel glum.  Covered in gloom.

But I am TELLING you, the best prescription for "getting better" in this life, is JESUS.  His Word is like taking a nap, an aspirin, and a bowl of chicken soup --all rolled into one!  

If you need a shot in the arm--let Jesus administer it through His Word and the hope of it.  He sees us where we are at, and He gives us an answer.  Indeed, He IS the answer!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress... ~Isaiah 9:1

That's us--He is talking about.  "Gloom" is a thing, and a lot of us are losing a wrestling match to it daily.  But The Lord promises hope through Jesus Christ.  And He is speaking to us, "who were in distress".  Well, some of us are still in it, or we were yesterday, or we might be tomorrow--God speaks of it in past tense because He wants us to leave the gloom and the distress.  Choose Him over the unknown.  

What is it like when we turn our face, our thoughts, our hearts to Jesus?  

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  ~Isaiah 9:2

Yes!  If you have experienced the Lord before, you may have a story that demonstrates this, but I believe for each of us today, He shines brightly--through the darkness or our Corona days or nights.  God is HERE.  We are not barricaded in a cave with no hope or light.  Our worldly and personal situation is unprecedented and can be a challenge for us, but we have seen a great light.  And if you have never experienced the Light of Christ-welcome Him into your heart (and mind!) today.  

...on those on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 

Is God narrating your story when He speaks of those "Living in the land of deep darkness"...?  We do not have to stay there.  Let Jesus in!  

"A light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:2) 

"Light" changes our view.  It reveals things we did not know were there.  It takes away the scariness of the dark and unknown corners.  And light also can comfort and exhilarate.  Think of the hot sun shining on your face with your eyes closed.  That red-orange light that you can "see" through your eyelids and the hot-warmth on your face is a metaphor of Jesus.  He is a warm and strong and He illuminates the gloom and He shines light in our dark corners.   

His light also produces an effect in us.  On how we process life and ourselves and others: Joy!  

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.  ~Isaiah 9:3-4

The figurative language is awesome!  Whatever your burden or oppressor is today--Corona continuing, family, money, depression, fears--God SHATTERS our burden, and the yokes that bind us.  

And what JOY there is in those victories!  We should rejoice in all that Christ has done for us, and all that He rescues us from.  Let Him shatter your yoke today.

These next verses are not just for Christmas!  They foretold of Jesus coming... and He is now here!  The beautiful titles given to Him here are all relationship options that are available to us with Jesus.  Soak up the promise and truth of these verses and the victory that they provide over our daily struggles, and our earthly struggles:

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  ~Isaiah 9:6-7

Yes and AMEN!  We can talk to Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor,

We can trust Him with the weight of our burdens and fears because He is Mighty God.

We can relax in our daily striving and we can have no fear of death, because He is our Everlasting Father.

We can stop clutching and fearing our worries, anxieties, what-if's, and new-normals because He is the Prince of Peace.

Today, I pray that Jesus light of love shines through our clouds of gloom.  

He is "wonderful, mighty, everlasting and peace!"  

And if you are wondering if He can really come through for you...

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  ~Isaiah 9:7

Blessings,

sarah