Daily Devotion

by Tracey Long

by Tracey Long

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  


Upon writing this, I’m reflecting on the meaning of the season of Lent, a season of fasting and prayer to focus on strengthening our faith and growing closer to God.    It strikes me that this season has similarities to what we’ve experienced through the pandemic as a congregation.  We are all disappointed, even angry, about what we have had to sacrifice of our “normal” life together.  We have wondered why it is happening and if we are making the right choices about how we proceed.   This has been on my mind a lot as I have been a part of the team that has been prayerfully reflecting on the difficult choices we have had to make about gathering or not for so many activities.  It’s not been an easy decision to pause the traditions we hold close, the weekly worship time together in person and easy conversations with those we’ve walked with in faith and more.  Making changes, developing new skills and trying and accepting new ways of gathering and growing in our relationship with God has ironically required us all to take a “leap of faith!”  

Lent directs our attention to making time and re-evaluating our lives to ensure we are living our faith as followers of Christ.  It asks us to slow down and “fast” from our daily ways of being to make more room for God.  I don’t know about you, but it feels like this is a message we should be very familiar with by now!  I do not believe nor suggest that God created this pandemic- rather, that in spite of the worldly circumstances we find ourselves in, now and always, God is working to draw us closer to Him.  This year He has been guiding us with new tools to connect us as a congregation and new ways for us to be His messengers in the world.  

Through our leaps of faith with new ways of worshipping and serving together, we are growing closer to God in spite of the habits we’ve had to set aside.  Seems we are learning by doing (Isn’t that just like a parent to work the lesson in right under our noses?)

May we grow our faith and daily make time to witness our Heavenly Father’s love for us while we find new ways to do so. 

2 comments on article "Daily Devotion"

Heidi Johnson

The Bible verse you chose says it all. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

2/22/2021 9:21 AM

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Danelle Buelsing

Thanks, Tracey, for all of your hard work with the COVID Task Force. You've had tough decisions to make, but I appreciate your dedication to safety as well as your creativity that led to new ways of worship and fellowship.

2/22/2021 11:45 PM

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