instead of briers the myrtle will grow

Today's Life Journal Bible reading had me in Isaiah 55. I was quickly reminded of a time at a staff retreat when God spoke promises to me in a very LOUD AND CLEAR way through verse 13.
I'm not sure of the year but I know I hadn't been in State College more than 2 or 3 years. I had moved here following some very painful junk at a former church and was in a spiritual and emotional state that left a lot to be desired. It may have been the closest I've ever known to feeling like my spirit had been crushed. Life Hurt!
I knew God had brought me out the circumstances and had brought me to a new physical location on purpose but I wasn't yet feeling the difference in my heart and mind - life still hurt.
I read these words from Isaiah in the context of reading all of chapter 55: "Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
If I would've read those words at any other time they would've just been nice words but for whatever reason God used them day, years ago, to pierce my heart with a very real sense of HIS PROMISE. All the junk that felt like briers entangling my life would one day be replaced with HIS BEAUTY for HIS FAME! Nothing changed that day in the heaviness I felt but there was a renewed HOPE in my heart that He would restore and heal, that He would once again have me in a place of growth and life and fruitfulness!
Today I am reminded of the heaviness and despair that I felt that day and the hope and expectancy I felt after reading those words from vs. 13.
God has done powerful things in my heart since that day at that retreat. He has healed deep hurts, restored confidence, reminded me of gifts He placed deep in my heart that I am finally ready to re-explore, stirred up joy that had been tucked away for so long. HE has shown himself TRUSTWORTHY and FAITHFUL.

I don't know what your heart has been through or how you feel today... heavy hearted or joyful?... hurt or healed? But I do know that He is faithful to His word. He promises that...
... instead of briers the myrtle will grow!