The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1–3, ESV
I am poor. I struggle. I doubt. I am often at a loss. Can you relate? Christ came for us. He came to help us in our afflictions, work with us in our struggles, and relieve our burdened hearts and minds. Christ makes everything better. Not because the sin of this world no longer will have any effect on those who believe, but because He frees us from the bonds that they attempt to place upon us. Sin will remain until He returns, but we can sit in this season of waiting, knowing that one day, the struggles of this life will matter less because we stand in His more. The struggles and pains we know will be gone. Our failures will be forgotten. God will take care of those who have afflicted us and stand in opposition to Him. For us, we are called to pray and seek comfort in the promise of what will be in spite of what we see in the present.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.