“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.” Isa. 54:4-5 (NLT)
O, Beloved Father, this Scripture is astonishing, freeing, and transforming. Thank you for giving life to the languishing, balm to the broken, and grace to the disgraced.
Thank you for your tenacious tenderness, inexhaustible patience, and heart-healing kindness. Thank you that we don’t have to be paralyzed by our lingering battle with guilt and shame. Thank you for the promise that one Day we’ll be totally free, healthy, and whole.
Until that blessed Day, root us more deeply in this Good News. You’re not ashamed of us, Father. In fact, you desire us and delight in us just as much as you delight in Jesus… as hard as that is to believe. Your gaze is the gaze of affection and joy; your eyes are filled with welcome and compassion for us. Your heart is our home, for you have hidden our lives in Jesus.
There’s nothing about us you don’t know. There’s nothing left to discover, shock, or disappoint you. You don’t love us as we should be, or as will be, but as we are right now. Thank you, Father, thank you—words that come easily, but words that feel woefully inadequate to express our sense of gratitude, relief, and peace.
As this day begins, and will end, we’re thankful no shame or disgrace awaits us from you, only grace upon grace (John 1:16). We have nothing to fear, except our unbelief. Your name is Redeemer and our name is beloved. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made us his beloved Bride. Hallelujah!
May this glorious gospel shape our thoughts, words, and deeds. May it radically impact how we relate to everyone you place in our paths today. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.
