Daily Devotion

by Dianne Gebhardt-French  

Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.” 

It’s not always easy to hear God in the cacophony of daily life. Harder yet, sometimes, to feel his comfort. Lent, a proscribed 40-day period of disciplined reflection, offers us the opportunity to double down our efforts to listen.

A worldwide pandemic has left us nearly shuttered in our homes; airplane tickets are redundant. Visits and vacations are on hold.  Instead of a hug, your children greet you across the driveway or from the other end of the deck. Your grandson knows you only as “Grandma in a box.” 

We study CDC reports and load the Mayo Clinic app on our phone. We examine news stories for facts and credible scientific sources. Despite all the information, conversations, and long walks, it is a scary time. COVID is brutal and indiscriminate. We’ve lost friends and, separated by hundreds of miles, we’ve watched family struggle.  Against this backdrop, I admit I have to challenge myself to listen carefully to hear God.   

A hymn or a Bible verse reminds us that God is with us and strengthens our resolve to come out on top – like when the words to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” popped into my head.  Who would have guessed this old brain had stored all four verses?

It may be praying while you walk the park or your neighborhood. Or finding sacred music online. Or setting aside 30 minutes daily of Bible study. Okay, 10 minutes and a Bible verse is a good start. 

It may be paying attention to who you are. 

A photo of my Oma with her two young sons has a place of honor on my buffet. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone with a baby and a toddler. Papa, who had come ahead to find a job and place to live, greeted her ship. In the photo, she’s young. She retained that set to her jaw the entire 99 years she lived. The photo reminds me that I have been shaped by her resilience. While growing their family and establishing a thriving business, my grandparents helped found the Lutheran Church in which I was raised. The photo reminds me I have been shaped by their faith. 

You don’t have to be a scholar to find the promise that God is with us throughout the Bible. You can even Google it. Find a verse that speaks most powerfully to you. Then, another one. It may be a habit that strengthens you.   

Isaiah 41:10: 
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help 
you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

1 comments on article "Daily Devotion"

Danelle Buelsing

I was especially intrigued by your suggestion to pay attention to who you are, and to use that as a way to connect with God.

3/23/2021 11:17 PM

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