Daily Worship

In search of Assurance

Fyfe January 23, 2016 0 0

Isaiah 57: 14-20

Someone says: “Build, build! Make a road!
    Clear the way, remove the rocks
    from the road my people will travel.”
A Message from the high and towering God,
    who lives in Eternity,
    whose name is Holy:
“I live in the high and holy places,
    but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed,
And what I do is put new spirit in them,
    get them up and on their feet again.
For I’m not going to haul people into court endlessly,
    I’m not going to be angry forever.
Otherwise, people would lose heart.
    These souls I created would tire out and give up.
I was angry, good and angry, because of Israel’s sins.
    I struck him hard and turned away in anger,
    while he kept at his stubborn, willful ways.
When I looked again and saw what he was doing,
    I decided to heal him, lead him, and comfort him,
    creating a new language of praise for the mourners.
Peace to the far-off, peace to the near-at-hand,” says God—
    “and yes, I will heal them.

In times of uncertainty, when those things that we had trusted in seem less reliable and we need to find a way forward. Here is a word of assurance to comfort amidst the many obstacles and obstructions that seem to block the way. Further, God will come in solidarity along the way. Listen to the promises and be (re)assured whatever your circumstances or indeed, in your solidarity with others speak words of assurance and comfort.

Pray: 
May God bless us with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that we may live from deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of God's creations
So that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless us with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless us with just enough foolishness
To believe that we can make a difference in the world,
So that we can do what others claim cannot be done:
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and all our neighbours who are poor.
Amen.  [A Franciscan Benediction]