Imagine just finishing work on a major project or other major turning point in life like retiring from a successful 40-year career. Imagine taking a vacation to celebrate and you wake up to the view in the picture above.

Today, we are reading Isaiah 40:1-11 and remembering that Jerusalem had been to the brink of destruction but made it through. The prophecy in today’s passage is encouragement for restoration. Unfortunately, Jerusalem would face difficult days ahead because it was prideful and thought it did not need God anymore.

The qualities of God make life simpler, but the qualities of humanity make things complicated. God can take tough situations and turn them into something positive. Out of intense difficulties, God can make simplicities emerge. He can turn boring tasks into something exciting. With God, there is more joy in life, burdens are a little lighter, and time is a little sweeter!

I remember Troy Aikman saying after one of the Super Bowl wins in the 1990s that he felt a little down after the high of the victory celebration. It was good for the first few weeks, but then the pressure of repeating a championship the next year sunk in. There was the feeling that all he had worked for had been accomplished and there was the feeling of what next?

The thought in reading today’s passage is that humanities highest accomplishments are weak and eventually vanish but just a gaze to heaven gives one a reason to raise a joyous noise to praise Christ the King! He is the reward that can never be matched.

As today’s passage points out, one day Jesus will come again to earth and occupy the throne in Jerusalem. What used to be difficult will be made much easier, so reveal the glory of the Lord to everyone around you to prepare the way of the Lord. Think about it. We have many more tools available to us today to reveal the glory of the Lord. God has given humanity tools like a computer or smart phone to share about His Good News!

We face good days and bad days, but when we make a comeback after a difficult day and keep at it, the reward is always much greater so let us keep our eye on the reward and suddenly the breaks will start going our way. God has already given humanity ideas for inventions and discoveries. Think about current times … we can shop, bank, pay bills, read books, and watch movies without leaving our home. What is in store for the future?

Lord, we struggle and strive and meet our challenges only with You by our side. We may miss the mark some days, but grace is just what we need to refresh our souls for the next best thing coming our way. We live in a challenging world that is changing at a rapid pace. With our smart phones, we can find the temperature in New York, in Dallas, in London or Los Angeles. We can text, talk, facetime, write blogs, use social media, and no telling what in the future. But one thing never changes and that is Your dependability. No matter where we are at on our journey, You are with us and that’s why we raise a joyous noise to praise You today. Amen.