With this news...

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” (Isaiah 35:1-4 NLT)

With this news...we share so much in the way of 'negative' or 'disheartening' news, why is it that we don't share the good news equally as frequently or as quickly? The moment we declare that God will display his glory in a particular situation, we are going to hear from a lot of naysayers that things are 'too far gone' or 'unable to be any better as long as' something or someone exists that makes it so. Hear this clearly: The wastelands of this world, as well as those of your heart, will be restored with an abundance beyond measure! No ifs, ands, or buts about it - God said it, it shall be done.

With this news...strengthen those who have tired hands. We grow weary in 'doing', don't we? The labor of our work tires us, and we find ourselves growing weaker and weaker in the process of 'doing' whatever it is God has called us to do. It could be the regular stuff of life, or the more challenging stuff of going where God leads and doing what he tells us to do when we feel unprepared to do it. Both can tire us out, can they not? Where do we find our strength when we grow tired in the work he has called us to engage in? If we turn to him, we are sure to find renewed strength.

With this news...encourage those who have weak knees. The moment we begin to falter, encouragement can 'reset' our stance, can it not? The one who comes alongside to encourage us does more than just give us a few well-spoken words in the right time. They actually bring renewed hope the infuses our very soul with the strength and stamina to go on when we no longer feel like we can bear up under it all any longer. We need those types of individuals in our lives, don't we? Those who will not only know when we are faltering but will step into our lives to bring that encouragement that forces us to look upward again.

Be strong and do not fear. Why? Your God is coming! He will destroy what stands in your way. Those are words of hope, are they not? We don't face our enemy alone. He is coming to save us. There is no greater place to be than under the shadow of his wings. No greater hope exists than the promise of restoration and renewal - especially when we are without our own strength and growing weak in our faith. Just sayin!