We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. Romans 8:17.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20.

I loved this today from You Are the Beloved by Henri Nouwen: “Suffering…The poor we see every day, the stories about deportation, torture, and murder we hear every day, and the under-nourished children we touch every day, reveal to us the suffering Christ has hidden within us. When we allow this image of the suffering Christ within us to grow to its full maturity, then ministry to the poor and oppressed becomes a real possibility; because then we can indeed hear, see, and touch Him within us as well as among us . . . Once we have seen the suffering Christ within us, we will see Him wherever we see people in pain. Once we have seen the suffering Christ among us, we will recognize Him in our innermost self. Thus we come to experience that the first commandment, to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, resembles indeed the second: “You must love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39-40).

How does that relate to our chapter? In every way! Only with the help of Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit, can we have hearts and minds open to His love and His truth and that it is for all of His children. And in seeing that how can we not pray for all people to come to the realization that every need they have is for God and His love within us and for Him? Isaiah 32…See, a King will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the Lord; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water. v. 1-6. God doesn’t leave us empty and thirsty. He shares His love for us that we can be a blessing – changed. Isaiah goes on to address complacent women but it is for all of us…You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to Me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come…The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. v. 9-10, 14-15. God’s Spirit poured out is our help. And then, The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, His righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. v. 16-18.

We can read these verses and miss the most important thing – that in every age of mankind our need is for God. He is the one who saves, who brings understanding for life lived to the full with Him, who helps us know joy even in the midst of sorrow and confusion because our eyes are on Him and our heart is led by Him. His kingdom is near because He lives within us by His Spirit – and our hearts are being changed. How else could we live in the world but not be of the world? For our world is Him! Our hope is in His covenant promises. And He is faithful! I long for that day when Jesus returns and everyone will know Him and His love and faithfulness. No more loneliness, no more despair, no more confusion. He knows. He understands. Do you think He doesn’t suffer when we suffer? His love is so needed. He will wipe away every tear as we look at Him and realize what was is healed in Him. Only God can bring that healing for us all. Let Him!