Exchange

To comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendour.

Isaiah 61:2-3

Years ago in Folkestone there was a swap shop. My dad used to love going there to bargain for things. He had a good jokey relationship with the owner.

I remember a very special incident where there was a Hofner acoustic guitar in the window (a very coveted make in the '60's).

We took my first cheap guitar as a part swap for the Hofner. It was an exchange which delighted my heart - all brought about by my dad.

Our Heavenly Father, through Jesus, promises a far greater exchange.

No human being can get inside a grieving heart and bring joy out of sorrow, or lift the cloud of depression to reveal the sunshine of praise.

When Jesus read from this passage on the scroll in the synagogue, He announced a new era of His Kingdom.

A Kingdom where His throne can be established in the broken human heart.

He promised to bring about a change that no one else can bring.

I want to emphasise the word ALL in the passage.

You may think that God excludes you from this precious promise. But there are no exceptions. If you come brokenhearted, oppressed or grieving to Jesus, you will receive His promised help.

Many of you reading this can testify to that very help in your lives.

By the Spirit of the Lord that divine exchange is ever available.

God may use human "special agents" to bring it about, but you will never be left bereft when you are in the Kingdom of God.

One day the exchange will be complete when the Lord wipes away all tears forever!Revelation 21:4

What a day that will be!

We will rejoice with the Psalmist:

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;

You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

Psalm 30:11

A Prayer:

Father, please make me Jesus' "special agent"of help and hope to grieving, hurting hearts.