Today is Mother’s Day. A time when traditionally in our church service we would recognize and honor mothers. It’s also a time when those for whom motherhood is elusive find reasons to stay home. I would to. It’s so difficult for dreams to go unrealized, to accept that which we never wanted to accept. My prayers are with every woman who longs to be called “mom” and is still waiting.

My mind goes to all the ways we experience disappointment in this life. It seems we are destined to accept something along the way that doesn’t seem fair. Perhaps it is job loss right now. Perhaps it is putting your dream of building a home – whether that is with wood and nails or a spouse and children – on hold for a season.

I have known disappointment. As I reflect on acceptance — it is the comfort of the Holy Spirit I need to accept. I find that I don’t want to accept comfort because that makes the loss more real, more final. But it is in His presence, that I become quiet again. It is then that I have the strength to get up and continue living.

There is a passage in Isaiah that bears repeating today. The Hebrew verb translated “saved” in this verse means to “remove an object from a dangerous situation or the state of being delivered from distress.” I want to be delivered from distress so I am most interested in how that might be accomplished. Check this out!

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.” … So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Isaiah 30:15, 18

The Lord waits to show me love and compassion. In coming to him, I will be saved – delivered from my distress. And I will know quietness and confidence, even in the midst of disappointment. Disappointment will not have the last word in my life!

I invite you to do the same today!