Encouragement to Rebuild, Restore, Renew

Life hurts. People live in broken cities, ruined streets, hurting homes and hungry hearts. What can we do to help them? My husband and I were discussing a serious need we became aware of in the lives of some friends and what our role should be in relating to that need.
I was reading one of my favorite passages this morning and became encouraged all over again. My life verse, in Isaiah 58 where God promises to make his people Repairers of Broken Walls and Restorers of Streets with Dwellings, came alive in a whole new way.
"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the opressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Your healing will quickly appear and the Lord will go before you and his glory will be your rear guard."

That is a worthy and wonderful promise and purpose. It gives energy and hope that we can make a difference in one another's lives. It gives meaning to our lives here on this journey we are all on together. We can learn to rebuild, restore and renew the ruined lives in this place where we live and work.

The plan became clear to me. We are supposed to impact lives for good and for God. We will do the next step to help our friend in his need. You too can encourage people to persevere in difficult life situations. Watch and wait for the needs and His answers. They will come.