My Favorite Chapter of Isaiah

"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of our Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and to 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.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor......  Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. 'For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity.  In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples.  All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.'  I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.  For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seed to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."  Isaiah 61:1-3 and 7-11

This has to be my favorite chapter in Isaiah.  Or maybe it just spoke to me more today than ever as we sing praises to our Lord and rejoice that we are only days away from meeting our daughter!  But as I read and meditate on these verses I am also keenly aware of the pain and despair that Lydia's birth mom must feel right now as she goes on with her life without her baby.  We may never fully understand why she felt that she had to give Lydia up for adoption, but I know it is all part of God's plan.  We don't always understand why God does what He does- but I rest in the assurance that His ways are ALWAYS BETTER THAN MY OWN.

My prayer for her mom is that she will seek the Lord with all her heart and find comfort in the only arms that can provide peace from despair and comfort for those who mourn... Jesus Christ our Lord.