A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.�������-Isaiah 42:3

For a couple of years I volunteered three days a week at our tiny church office, where they have given me the title Director of Communications. This meant that I wrote and edited the monthly newsletter and updated the weekly bulletin. It also meant that I heard many of the joys and sorrows of the church family.

One week, many of our families seemed to be struggling. Financial loss, severe illness, a breaking marriage, a miscarriage, a death in the family�the list went on and on. I knew that behind each of the prayer requests lay people who were hurting, struggling to let their faith grow in adversity and uncertainty.

I was absentmindedly typing the prayer list for Sunday�s bulletin as I concentrated on praying for the various people and their needs. When I looked up at the computer screen to check my work, I found I had typed the phrase "each member" as "each ember."

The image of an "ember," something burning low, brought to my mind the "smoldering wicks" of Isaiah 42. As I corrected my mistake, I smiled and thanked God that His promise was sure: Not one of these "embers" would be snuffed out. He would sustain them and bring forth a good result in His own perfect way and time.

Lord, bless and sustain those whose faith candle burns low today.

By Roberta Rogers