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Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom
for those who were in distress.
Isaiah 9:1a
A couple of days ago I was sitting in the stands with my mom watching my son’s basketball game. It was a nail-biter, the teams exchanged scores playing a back-and-forth game of shots, steals, and jump balls. One of the player’s mothers, Lindsay, came and sat with us. During a timeout, she showed me her watch (as seen above). This watch had the incredible ability to read blood pressure, oxygen levels, etc. resulting in a ‘diagnosis’ of sorts. The result? “Stressed: Last 1.00h.”
We all laughed. This nifty little gadget told Lindsay, a faithful mother, that she has been stressed for the past hour watching the game.
Maybe you feel like you have been stressed not just for an hour, but all day, all week, or all year. You feel like you have been left out in the dark in your grief and despair watching the world pass by. Everyone seems so happy, but that’s not how you feel inside and you feel all alone. Perhaps your pride and sin have you filled with shame. You have tried to be better but you watch yourself fail over and over again. Maybe you watch the news every day and the world has your gut bursting with doom and gloom.
In Isaiah chapter 8:19-22, God’s people were looking for help and hope in all the wrong places. They were looking for help in everything and everyone, except in the Lord. They soon found themselves in nothing but darkness and despair.
Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. (Isaiah 8:23)
But the prophet declares there will be no more doom and gloom, because the Lord will help them.
In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2).
This is Lord who shines forth! It is Lord who came not to Jerusalem, but to Nazareth in Galilee. This is The Lord who preached repentance and forgiveness. This is The Lord who came to bring light to a dark world. This is The Lord who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). This is The Lord who came to bring hope to those in despair. This is The Lord Jesus who comes to YOU in his Word and Sacrament. This is what we celebrate this Epiphany season.
If you are stressed out today, remember who Jesus is and why He came. You are not left in the dark; Jesus came for you. In Jesus, YOU are forgiven; YOU are loved. No need to be stressed, you are blessed.
See you Sunday I can’t wait!
Pastor Austin
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