I’ve been there

This week I was sharing with someone what The Journey is about, and I used the phrase we identify ourselves by, “a community of faith, hope, and love.”  Not that this phrase is exclusive to us—we borrowed it from a 1^st century group of Jesus-followers living in the city of Thessalonica.  But, it’s our ideal.  We strive to be this kind of community.  Sometimes I wonder, however, if I truly grasp the full power of these 3 words—faith, hope, love.  I’ve prayed with several families this week who are really struggling through life right now.  I encourage them to have hope in God, to put their faith in Him, and hopefully, they’ll sense my words and encouragement are born out of love.  But, when the world seems heavy on your shoulders, it can be difficult to embrace these values.  I know because I’ve been there myself.  For these moments, I believe God ministers to us in special ways if we are open to listening.  I was reading these scriptures the other day, and they ministered to me.  Perhaps God will minister through them to you as well. 

Isaiah 40

²⁸ Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.    

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.    

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;    

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.