Daily Devotion

by Kristin Kalsem

by Kristin Kalsem

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him . . .

After school when I was growing up, I loved to rush home and turn on the television to reruns of Bewitched, a comedy featuring Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha, a friendly witch who was married to the mortal, Darrin Stephens. With a twitch of her magical nose, she could stop time, straighten a messy room, or conjure up a beautifully set table with delicious food. Many times in my life I have wished I had Samantha’s powers—and, in my head, I have made the argument that I would be an ideal person to have such abilities because I wouldn’t abuse them. I would never, for example, use this magic to see the future and win the lottery or to cause harm to anyone. But every rare once in a while, it would be so nice to zap myself from one place to another to avoid wearisome travel layovers or because I was feeling too tired for a long drive. I would use this gift in moderation.

I think of the Parable of the Persistent Widow, found in Luke 18.1-8, as a gift from God to be used in moderation. This is the prayer parable that Jesus tells his disciples about a widow who is seeking justice from a judge who “has no fear of God and no respect for anyone.” However, the judge eventually gives the woman what she wants, just so she will stop pestering him and leave him alone. Jesus explains that if even this unjust judge will respond to fervent pleas for his help, just imagine what God will do for those who “cry to him day and night.”

Much of time I try to pray for God’s will and not mine. I remind myself that God knows the plans that he has for me, that he has his own timing, and that he wishes me to prosper. But every rare once in a while, I feel the need to pester, nag, remind, repeat, make sure God hears me, is paying attention–cry to him day and night. And the parable about the persistent widow lets me know that’s okay.  During the intensity of those prayers, ironically, I also feel a sense of peace as I find myself joking with God--“I know, I know, I’m being the persistent widow, but this is SO important to me.” I imagine God chuckling in the kindest of ways at my human frailties and desires to control. I feel close to God and know he will take care of me regardless of what happens--and I tell him that—right before I yet again reiterate my own preferred outcome!

Dear Lord:  Thank you for being an understanding, present, and patient God and for bestowing on all of us the magical power that is prayer.

1 comments on article "Daily Devotion"

Danelle Buelsing

Kristin, I love how you beautifully wrote about the dichotomy between turning our situation over to God and asking God repeatedly for what we want. My favorite part is the image of God chuckling and loving us the way we are.

3/10/2021 11:34 PM

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