Devotionals
 

Devotionals are short essays written by GSLC members and staff that explore the ways the Holy Spirit works within our every day lives.  There are several ways we invite you to use these devotionals:

  • Make them a part of a prayer practice - read a devotion and consider the ways that Christ has worked similarly in your life or works in unexpected ways.
  • Make them a part of a journaling practice - read a devotion and journal about what the Holy Spirit is stirring in you as you reflect on the essay.
  • Use them as a reminder that God works in all things, the bad and the good.

With over 400 available devotions, you can use these daily, weekly, or monthly.  It's up to you!  We just hope that by reading these inspiring stories provided by Good Shepherd's flock you are able to better see where Jesus is present in all things!  Thank you to all of our members that have provided devotionals throughout the past couple of years!

 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Daily Devotion

by Heidi M. Johnson

Have you ever been asked “Does God truly exist?  If he does, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?”  This is a complex question, but a story was shared with me a long time ago that I still think about today:

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always.  He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him.  They talked about so many things and a wide variety of subjects.  Suddenly, they touched on the subject of God.  

The barber said:  “Look man, I don’t believe that God exists as you say.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the client.

The barber replied:  Well, it’s so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist.  Tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people?  Would there be abandoned children?  If God existed, there would be no suffering nor pain.  I can’t think of loving a God who permits all of these things.”

The client stopped for a moment thinking, but he didn’t want to respond so as to cause an argument.  The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop.  Just after he left he saw a man in the street with long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy).

Then the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber:  “You know what?  Barbers do not exist.”  

“How can you say they don’t exist?” asked the barber.  “I am here and I am a barber.”

The client said:  “They don’t exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street.”

The barber said:  “Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” affirmed the client.  “That’s the point.  God does exist.  What happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him.  That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”

Think about it…...

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2 comments on article "Daily Devotion"

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Sharon Downing

Love your story, Heidi! It certainly is food for thought. Thanks for sharing it.


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Danelle Marie Buelsing

Heidi, this is an interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking story!

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