take heart

"Arise!  Wake up.  Put your face in the sunlight.  God's bright glory has risen for you.  The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness; but God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.  Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness.  Look up!  Look around!  Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you: Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies.  When you see them coming you'll smile— big smiles!  Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!  All those people returning by sea for the reunion, a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!  And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah, pouring in from the south from Sheba, loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of God. What's that we see in the distance, a cloud on the horizon, like doves darkening the sky? It's ships from the distant islands, the famous Tarshish ships returning your children from faraway places. Loaded with riches— with silver and gold— and backed by the name of your God, showering you with splendor.  Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings assist you in the conduct of worship.

When I was angry I hit you hard.  It's my desire now to be tender.  You'll know that I, God, am your Savior, your Redeemer.  I'll give you only the best!  Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron, bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones.  I'll install Peace to run your country, make Righteousness your boss.  There'll be no more stories of crime in your land, no more robberies, no more vandalism.  You'll have no more need of the sun by day nor the brightness of the moon at night.  God will be your eternal light, your God will bathe you in splendor.  Your sun will never go down, your moon will never fade.  I will be your eternal light.  Your days of grieving are over.  All your people will live right and well, in permanent possession of the land.  They're the green shoot that I planted, planted with my own hands to display my glory.  I am God.  At the right time I'll make it happen."
-Isaiah 60 (The Message translation)

. . . what beautiful expressions of love & such pictures of hope God created in this passage!