Last Thursday at a church service, the speaker focused on a portion of Isaiah 53, and a couple of verses definitely popped out at me. To give you a bit of back-story, I was having a difficult couple of days last week as I heavily reflected on the last couple of years of my life and all that has transpired. I started to feel really sad and heavy hearted again. I asked questions like, "Why did that have to happen?" "How could things have turned out this way?" etc. etc. Thankfully, days like these have become fewer and farther apart from one another which is such a testimony to God's healing!!! (Yay, God!)

So, back to Isaiah 53! A portion of verses 3 and 4 gave me such comfort and truly renewed my strength: "He (Jesus) was despised by others, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain...Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering..." Wow! I don't quite know how to put it into words, but reading those words and letting them seep deeper into my heart felt like a warm, snuggly blanket that made me feel safe, cared for, and comforted. Jesus experienced pain (the worst pain of all). I am not alone. I am not expected to carry the pains that I feel on the weight of my own shoulders, but I can give them to Him and He will carry them for me! "Cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

So, I had my sad day, but I shared it with the Lord and some trusted friends...I cried, I talked about it, I heard a great message of truth, and experienced God's comfort. Yay!