Isaiah 51 - 2 Nephi 8

Again I read Isaiah and feel as though I'm not getting the full meaning of what Isaiah and Jacob were trying to convey, but at very least I took it as a message to those of the latter days that we, and the Jews, must remember the covenants made with our fathers and that through those covenants we can and will be blessed. We must continue to trust in the Lord, and keep his commandments but that though we struggle against those not of the church we will be raised up and supported in the end. It is the Savior that comforts us. And he has already drunk from the bitter cup and will not require us to drink from it. But what's more He will require our enemies to drink from it.

Yesterday was a tough day at work and I felt pretty beat up. I know that what Isaiah and Jacob are teaching here is in reference to a much bigger picture, but for me the words were comforting as if they could be applied to just my situation. Here were some phrases that stood out to me as a comfort:

v. 22 "Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord and thy God pleadeth the cause of his people; behold I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury, thou shalt no more drink it again"

v. 23 "But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; who have said to thy soul, bow down that we may go over -- and thou hast laid thy body as the ground and as the street to them that went over."

v. 24 "Awake, Awake, put on thy strength,... put on thy beautiful garments..."

v. 25 "Shake thyself from the dust; arise,..."

They seemed to me to be words of encouragement, to continue on even though I felt so beat down. I do think the Lord hears our prayers and often we hear His response through our reading, and our impressions as we read are apart of the answers we receive. All to often when we are distressed by something we close off our hearts to hearing the Lords instructions or encouragement to us, which would come through the spirit, or quiet, uninterrupted prayer. I am blessed to have had both this morning and am grateful for that.