No longer will you be named Forsaken; no longer will your land be called Abandoned; but you will be called My Delight and your land Espoused. For the Lord delights in you and will make your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, so will your builder marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so will your God rejoice in you.
While the prophet speaks of God's covenant people and the land He gave them, I speak these words to you. For a very long time now, you have experienced sorrow, heartache, anxiety, and loss. Day after day, you bring before Me your prayers to restore what was lost by those of your flesh who have sinned through a lack of discipline, a lack of prayer, self-indulgence leading to living immoral lives. Smothering conscience, losing sight of all that was taught to them in their childhood and youth, until all control was lost and the spiritual rot set in. Breaking the spirit and allowing evil to enter and reside. The punishment was brought about by vanity, pride, and self-indulgence with no boundaries, and the whole body was broken. You watched the slow decay and destruction, and you stood by helpless, afraid of the worst but never giving in to complete despair. You came to Me, threw yourself on My mercy, and begged Me for help, strength, and restitution, even while your heart was filled with fear that perhaps all was lost. But you forgot that I punish only to bring about healing, repentance, contrition, forgiveness, and pardon. I heard your prayer, I wiped your tears. My heart broke even as yours was broken. But I had to apply the remedy, painful as it was. I had to strip away, cleanse thoroughly through suffering, before putting together again. No longer will either you or your loved ones be considered Forsaken. Never will you feel abandoned. I delight in you, I have made a covenant with you which will never be broken, nor will I forget that you are espoused to Me. Fear not, ---- my own, all I have said I will do. They will return, and not only you but heaven will rejoice at their return to the Father's house.
