Wednesday 18 March 2026 - The Lord has comforted his people

Today is Wednesday the 18th of March, in the fourth week of Lent.

I can make it through the night when I'm clinging to your light.

You will make the darkness bright for you are always, always with me

for you are always, always with me.

I am sun sings always with me.

How is God with you today accompanying you on your journey?

In the calm and in the storm, when it seems I'm all alone, it's your head and a fight tomorrow.

In each hour of unrest, when it seems I've nothing left, you speak peace and air.

For you are always, always with me, for you are always, always with me.

It's with me in the morning, it needs me when I'm waking, when I'm sleeping, when I'm alive, when I'm leaving.

You will have me and you're keeping me.

Even from my mother's home, never hidden from you.

I was always known to you, when I faint away now.

You will catch my final breath, you will take me to my breath.

Today's reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord, in a time of favor I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you.

I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, come out.

To those who are in darkness, show yourselves. They shall feed along the ways.

On all the bare heights shall be their pasture. They shall not hunger or thirst, now the scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down.

For he who has pity on them will lead them, and by the springs of water will guide them, and I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up.

Low thee shall come from far away, and low these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Cyrene, sing for joy o heavens and exalt o earth.

Break forth o mountains into singing, for the Lord has comforted his people, and he will have compassion on his suffering ones.

But Zion said, the Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb?

Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

We might call this a poem for those who feel abandoned by God.

The people of God insist that the Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me. Have you ever felt like this?

God insists to the people that I have answered you.

I have helped you.

Sometimes, when we reflect back, we're able to see that God has been with us in unexpected places, and in unexpected ways.

Take a moment to do this now.

I will turn my mountains into a road, as you listen again, reflect on what God is offering the people.

Perhaps this is being offered to you today.

Thus says the Lord, in a time of favour I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you.

I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, come out.

To those who are in darkness, show yourselves. They shall feed along the ways.

On all the bare heights shall be their pasture. They shall not hunger or thirst.

Now the scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down. For he who has pity on them will lead them, and by the springs of water will guide them.

And I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up.

Although these shall come from far away, and low, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syrene, sing for joy, oh heavens, and exalt, oh earth.

Break forth oh mountains into singing, for the Lord has comforted his people, and he will have compassion on his suffering ones.

But Zion said, the Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb?

Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Hear these words spoken to you today from the Lord.

What would you like to say in return as this prayer comes to a close?

What would you like to say in return as this prayer comes to a close?

What would you like to say in return as this prayer comes to a close?

What would you like to say in return as this prayer comes to a close?

What would you like to say in return as this prayer comes to a close?

You have given all to me, to you Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours, do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace.

That is enough for me.

Amen.