and the glory of the Lord will be revealed

In a few days Andrew will leave. He and 3 others will pack their bags, get on a plan, and head overseas. Although he does this several times a year, each time requires some good prep work. For both of us. Lots of phone calls, emails, and planning for him. Lots of communication, planning, and prayers for us. Each time he leaves and returns we both know the spiritual battle that is going on. We can feel and experience the struggles with selfishness, temptations towards bitterness, frustrations with exhaustion. It's hard stuff. Last night we sat and prayed with the guys and their spouses. We encouraged one another with Scripture from Isaiah and agreed together to read the same passages for the trip. It seems as soon as I pray the enemy is quick to try to make me stumble. I was encouraged this morning by our first group passage, Isaiah 4o, as I struggled with selfishness, weariness, complaining attitudes, and insecurities. He does not grow weary, His word endures forever, He comes to carry me close to His heart. And the Glory of the Lord will be revealed.

Isaiah 40:27-31

Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope 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 be faint.