Looking Forward with Hope

Scripture:
The Lord will have compassion on Jacob;
    once again he will choose Israel
    and will settle them in their own land.
Foreigners will join them
    and unite with the descendants of Jacob.
Isaiah 14:1

Observation: After all the destruction and punishment that will be brought on Israel - after Israel and Judah are both destroyed by Assyria and then Babylon - the Lord will restore them. God will again make them prosperous, in the chosen land.

Application: Yesterday, I was fired for something that is just ... wrong. Yes, I am not the nicest guy. Yes, I made mistakes. But I had a light heart, mixed with high expectations, and everything was twisted and manipulated. And I was lied to by people I ... maybe not trusted, but expected honesty.

I ache inside. I hurt. I worry about my family. I am sorry for "losing" what "we" worked hard for.

So I simply know one thing still - The Lord has a plan for prosperity. He has handed me hardship, which will build my hope. And I now have hope! I do not know his plan, but I have confidence and hope. I am being developed and refined. I suspect the "path" will be one of humility, and I'm actually looking forward to that. I believe my ego is ready to sit back and enjoy a long, slow, and simplified "end game" of my career, without aspirations other than happiness, joy, and rejoicing in the Lord. I think I may be ready to be restored and to settle into a land without pride.

Prayer: Lord, your path is before me. I cannot see down it, but I'm trying not to even try. Instead, I am looking up at you. Lead on, my Lord and my God. I will follow. Amen.