Isaiah 60:1 Zechariah delivers the word given to him, “Thus says the Lord of hosts… “ a word calling us to come because we ‘know’ Him … And Isaiah issues the command to arise, to shine, for the glory of the Lord has risen and shines on us. If that sounds like God’s doing a new thing… perhaps that’s because He is. It may seem as nothing new to His promise to His people or those who believe in Him, as we acknowledge an overarching theme of experiencing and living with Joy and Peace our beyond circumstances. But, it may be new to us… today, as we are in an extremely weak moment in our life, overwhelmed in our condition. Trusting in Him, relying on Him and pressing in to Him isn’t new to anyone who understands how Faith grows in affliction and suffering, but they serve as reminders of Truth when we’re in the middle of hard things. It’s Living Water to our soul, restoring His Strength and Courage in us through His Wisdom… and His Glory. Isaiah encourages us to rise to a new life, to shine, not because of anything we are, but to shine with the Glory of the Lord. There is no promise of a change in circumstance, there is no promise of an end to our suffering on this side of heaven. What is this new life if it’s not a new life in Him, in His glory… when we rise above the hard things, overcoming them in the spirit. This isn’t to be confused with escape but rather taking hold of a power much greater than we could ever imagine. Are we too weak to stand? Take hold of His hand, He’ll help us up. Are we too weak to walk? We allow Him to carry us for a bit. It begins with a choice to ‘come’, to look up, to decide to rise and let His Glory shine upon us.