Yesterday, I talked a little about how putting my trust in God helped to show me that hope is alive and well. Today, our reading from Isaiah 35:4-7a is about what happens after we put our trust in God. Isaiah tells an amazing story of how Israel is in danger because of their disloyalties to God. In Chapter 35 Isaiah brings words of hope to a people who have had their lives completely disrupted by an Assyrian invasion which has taken all their lands and scattered their people.
The words written in Isaiah is something many of us can resonate with. We have all at one time or another - or maybe even in this moment - had a disruption in our lives that make it feel as though our lives have been invaded and is being scattered without hope. Just yesterday I spoke with a student who told me how her parents have separated and are each talking to her about the evils the other has done. This young woman's parents are, in her opinion, being selfish in trying to ensure she takes their side when she honestly wants nothing more than to never have to pick a side. All she wants is to love them both in the way she always has.
Her life is being invaded and her happiness scattered. As we spoke, though, I told her she wasn't alone. I have spoken to many youth in my years and have heard this same story over and over. I agreed with her that what parents do when they are going through a divorce is downright unfair to their children and to each other. I then told her the best thing she could do is be honest with them about how she feels and what it is they're doing to her. Right now she is developing a deep mistrust for both parents; what she needs to do is rebuild that trust through honesty with herself and with them.
Will that be an easy task. No. Will it make her feel immediately better. No. Will her words make a difference in how her parents feel towards each other. Who knows. All I can say for sure is that by finding her inner strength and courage and by being honest with them about her feelings she will begin a healing process for herself.
As Isaiah puts it, when we are strong and do not fear then "the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped". We need to find that inner strength, no matter the situation, to stand up for ourselves and for those who cannot stand up for themselves. We need to find a way to be just in a world seeking justice so that joy through peace can finally be what our world will live in.
No comments:
Post a Comment