Those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am he who comforts you.” Isa. 51:11–12 (NIV)
Father, this passage blasts our hearts with great hope and invites us to fresh joy. No matter what else is going on in our lives, we choose to remember that we’ve already been ransomed, rescued, and redeemed. We were bought out of sin, condemnation, and death; and brought into your eternal embrace. Hallelujah!
All captivities—the ones we’ve generated, and those brought upon us by others—all of them are broken in Jesus. No imprisonment, bondage, or chains will keep us from arriving safely Home. They all have expiration dates.
Because you have hidden our lives in Jesus, we live in the eternal year of your favor. Though we’ll enjoy this freedom more fully in heaven, we are legally free as we will ever be—for Jesus’ redemptive work on our behalf is finished and complete. The saints in heaven are certainly more joyful and whole than us, but they’re not more secure and loved.
Being “crowned with everlasting joy”—what’s that going to be like? What will it sound like when our voice blends in with the entire family of God, as we enter the New Jerusalem together? We know what it feels like to be overtaken by guilt and shame, but what will it be like to be overtaken by gladness and joy? Our present standing in grace will lead to eternal dancing in grace—even for we non-dancers.
We await the Day when all sorrow and sighing will flee away, vanquished by the arrival of our true King. Thank you for being the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort right now. Forgive us for bypassing you and seeking our comfort elsewhere. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.