The Invitation

Today I received an invitation. I was flipping through an old book and tucked away in the middle I found this invitation. As I read the words written, I was so excited not to have missed my chance and knew this was one invitation I wanted to shout “yes” too!

This invitation is in the book of Isaiah chapter 55, the chapter heading is called Invitation to Grace. These particular words struck me because the Lord has been working on me a great deal the last couple of months. Right before Easter, all of our children and I had fevers and got fairly sick, as mom I put my own needs aside and took care of everyone. I hardly even asked for Bryce’s help. This led to me becoming very sick, I quickly developed a case of late onset postpartum anxiety and depression. It was a very scary time for everyone in our family including me! I had many people praying for me and supporting me and we leaned into God’s grace. He once again showed up in such a big way, we had decided to spend a few weeks in Oregon, the kids were able to enroll in a wonderful Catholic school and I was able to exercise each day and take some quiet time. The Lord always knows exactly what we need. The other thing the Lord did during this time was teach me about His deep love for us and His constant mercy. As often as I have heard these words, I feel like I didn’t really understand them until now. In many different ways and through many different people Jesus keeps telling me to trust Him completely, to be weak and empty handed before him, to surrender all before Him. I knew this invitation was from Jesus to me!

The night before I read Isaiah 55, I was telling Bryce how I was picturing God throwing a big dinner party and inviting me. I would ask the Lord “what can I bring?” His response was “nothing, allow me to spoil you, allow me to care for you, I LOVE YOU” So often, when we get invited to someone’s house I ask ‘what can we bring?” and often people say” just yourselves” and I accept that answer and feel honored by it. However with Jesus, I feel like I need to bring something, I need to look my best, feel my best, bring the best part of myself. The Lord keeps saying, “No, I love you as you are right now, broken, weak, scared, sinful. Please come, please say “yes” to me to my invitation, allow me to fill you.” So I have been working on saying “yes” and allowing the Lord to love me as I am, allowing Him to use me, as I am, for His glory. I am trusting in my “host” and saying “yes” to his invitation to grace, to His divine life within me.

And this is Jesus’ response to my “yes”:

“All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Heed me and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” Isaiah 55: 1-3