These words from Isaiah embrace me and encourage me as the days speed along until my daughter turns twelve years old. As I look back on all her past birthdays, I am most impressed with God’s great faithfulness. I see His hand all over our family. I don’t know why. I don’t know why He loves us and chooses us to display His glory.

I’m just so thankful for His tangible-ness here this week. My girl is growing up. I know eventually, that means she’ll grow away from me, that she’ll leave the nest and either flounder or fly. Or both. What will I do when I can’t advocate for her anymore, when I’m not there to interpret the world to her—and explain her to the world?

I’ll rest in these words—this Word—Who promises stamina and help:

(From Isaiah 40)

²⁷Jacob, why do you say,
and Israel, why do you assert:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my claim is ignored by my God”?
²⁸Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Yahweh is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the whole earth.
He never grows faint or weary;
there is no limit to His understanding.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
and strengthens the powerless.
³⁰Youths may faint and grow weary,
and young men stumble and fall,
³¹but those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.

Leaning on His Everlasting arms of grace and mercy,

Cassandra