Welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread.

Our reading titled Rejoicing Love was written by Lisa M. Samra.

Brendan and Katie beamed at each other.

Looking at the pure joy on their faces,

you would have never guessed the difficult ways so many of

their wedding plans had been dramatically altered due to COVID-19 restrictions. Even with only 25

family members present, joy and peace radiated from the two as they said their vows because of their

love for each other and expressed their gratefulness for God's love sustaining them.

The image of a bride and groom delighting over each other is the picture the prophet Isaiah painted

to describe the type of delight and love God has for his people.

In a beautifully poetic description of God's promised deliverance in Isaiah, chapter 61,

Isaiah reminded his readers that the salvation God offered them reflected the reality of living in a broken world.

Comfort for the brokenhearted, joy for those who mourn, and provision for the needs of his people.

God offered help to his people because just like the

bride and grooms celebrate their love for each other, so will your God rejoice over you.

It's a remarkable truth that God delights in us and wants a relationship with us. Even when we

struggle because of the effects of living in a broken world, we have a a relationship with us. Even when we struggle because of the effects of living

in a broken world, we have a God who loves us, not begrudgingly, but with a rejoicing, lasting love

that endures forever.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 62, verses 1 through 5.

For Zion's sake, I will not keep silent. For Jerusalem's sake, I will not remain quiet,

till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation, like a blazing torch.

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