| PENTECOST V June 23, 2024 “Let Your Heart Take Courage” The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:1, 14 Whether any of us are reading, watching, or listening to the news, there’s likely to be a moment when we think to ourselves, “This is terrible! Why am I even giving this my attention?” Every report goes from one traumatic event to another, whether it’s a natural disaster, a mass shooting, a horrendous accident, to the devastation of war. I’ve thought to myself that I may be well informed, but I’m also depressed and disturbed. During a recent broadcast of national/international news, I felt a great sympathy for those affected and thought of the fear and terror experienced by those in the midst of these circumstances. Most people, at least adults, just hate to admit they are afraid of just about anything. The way we express ourselves tells of our reluctance to talk about fear. We might say we’re “very concerned” or “somewhat anxious” or possibly “hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.” But to just say we’re afraid? That gets a little too close to the reality of how we’re feeling. Any number of times, we find ourselves in situations where we’re providing support, assurance, and hope. It’s not necessarily something we intend to do; we just end up being “that person.” So where do we turn when we get bad news, or forces beyond our control threatens all that we hold dear? God knows what is in our hearts, and what goes through our minds at the darkest of moments, and we can pour out all our fears to the one who is our loving father and creator. It may feel awkward to sit down and truly express to God what worries or frightens us, to wonder what lies ahead, and to look for strength in the face of a crisis. The great blessing in finding ways to cope with our fears is that we don’t have to do it alone, as God sends us help in more ways than we even realize. It might be a friend or family member who visits with you, or a neighbor or co-worker who wishes you well and offers encouragement. Whether we’re angry with God, or we’re paralyzed with fear and feel helpless to even think, much less do anything, we need to look around for those helpers who are here beside us. They usually don’t even realize they’re doing a “godly thing”, but they are, and they make a difference. We may think we don’t hear God’s voice directly telling us to “take courage” but it’s there — when we are strengthened by someone’s quiet presence, when we are touched by a song of trust and faith, when we find that peace within that only God can give. “Taking courage” is a state of mind and spirit we may not be able to constantly achieve and maintain, but in the words of the Psalmist, we are assured: “The Lord is the stronghold of my life.” Grateful for strength that comes from the Lord, Your friend in Christ, Mary Rogers When Peace Like A River https://youtu.be/puL_UQfTxyc?si=cf3KRCo8G6C0J1rL Precious Lord https://youtu.be/puL_UQfTxyc?si=cf3KRCo8G6C0J1rL Down in the River to Pray https://youtu.be/4GrzLWlc1LA?si=t45TodI2bsVEUtt_ |
WEEKLY DEVOTION – JUNE 23, 2024
2024-06-24