Monday, March 11th
Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2; 8-12
Reflection: A common misconception
about faith is that it is must exist entirely without fear or doubt.
Fear is human; it comes from uncertainty and a desire to protect our
interests. Imagine how Abraham must have felt, receiving a call from
God to travel into a foreign land with his wife. What must have been
going through his head? Here he was, practically dead, and God wanted
him to go off and start a whole new people. It's ridiculous, and he
must have been terrified. What if something happened to his wife and
the other people he was responsible for? What if he left it all only
to find out that there was no promised land, there would be no
descendants, and that he was about to die alone in a strange place?
Abraham must have experienced plenty of anxiety, and yet he left his
homeland and trusted God, and it was “reckoned to him as
righteousness.” What do you think this says about faith? Is it
about certainty, or could it be about trust in spite of uncertainty?
Take time to reflect, meditate, or
pray in silence.
Prayer: God, I'm so scared sometimes.
I'm scared about my health, I'm scared about my family, I'm scared
about my work, and so many other things. Please help me to trust you
through my fear. Take my hand and guide me to the next step even
though I can't see the ground, and don't know where I will end up.
Thank you for being with me, and being patient with my frail human
trust. Guide me, redeemer. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, March 12th
Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2; 8-12
Reflection: Part of fear is the
inability to imagine a better future. When Abraham looked into the
future with his aging wife, do you think he could imagine a courtyard
full of giggling children? Or do you think he imagined dying alone,
his estate going to some distant relative? Learning to move beyond
fear has less to do with being able to see the future based on your
current circumstances and more to do with being able to imagine a
different future. What seems impossible in your life right now? Do
you have rebellious children or a frustrating job? Are you facing
illness, or living out the rest of your years without your spouse? A
future that follows from your situation now might seem hopeless, but
God is the creator of possibility. What possibilities can you imagine
that are based not in your present suffering, but in God's promise of
restoration?
Take time to reflect, meditate, or
pray in silence.
Prayer: Dear Lord, my imagination is so
weak. It's hard for me to see that something better can come out of
this situation. Help me to see not to what I am capable of achieving,
but what you are capable of delivering. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday, March 13th
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10
Reflection:
Paul indicates that sometimes our suffering is a part of our growth.
Regardless of how you believe suffering comes about, we are told that
“all things work together for good for those who love God, who are
called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) In other words, God
doesn't necessarily cause suffering, but uses even the bad stuff to
help us become who we were meant to be. It can be really hard to see
how a bad situation can turn into something beneficial, especially in
the midst of suffering. But try to think back to something you went
through a few months or even years ago. Do you think that God used
that to strengthen you or teach you something? Do you regret who you
are now, or are you glad you grew through the hard stuff? How might
God be using your present struggles to shape you?
Take time to reflect, meditate, or
pray in silence.
Prayer: Heavenly Lord, I have no idea
what you're doing with my life right now, but I know you're doing
something. You always walk with me and use even the worst things that
the forces of evil throw at me to recreate and repurpose my life.
Thank you for always walking with me, and help me feel your presence
when I have no idea what will come out of my suffering. In Jesus'
name. Amen.
Thursday, March 14th
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10
Reflection: We have a particular way of
looking at the world: weaknesses or failings are bad, and successes
and strengths are good. We think that Jesus on the cross is a defeat,
we think that death is the end, and we think that failing means the
game is over. Paul says that the gospel is “foolishness” to those
who are perishing, because the gospel is so contrary to everything we
think is true about the world. He says here that being weak actually
makes him strong, but how can that be? Have you ever been defeated by
something? By depression, or a bad job or family situation? Was that
the end, or did you, in your moment of defeat, experience grace from
those who supported, helped, and cared for you? Sometimes it's in our
weakest moments that we realize that our strength is not our own, but
comes from those who lift us up when we can no longer carry
ourselves. How is God lifting you today?
Take time to reflect, meditate, or
pray in silence.
Prayer: Dear Lord, your wisdom is so
different from mine that it's hard to understand. My weaknesses knock
me down, and I feel like I can't get up again. Help me to see that my
weaknesses provide an opportunity for your strength to carry me. Help
me accept the strength of others in my weakness, and be the strength
for others during their weakness. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Friday, March 15th
Reading: Matthew 26:36-46
Reflection: Jesus demonstrates trust
and obedience in the face of fear. Jesus knew that the culmination of
his ministry would be incredible suffering, and even knowing that
death would not have the final word was not a comfort during this
time. He asked not once but three times for this cup to be taken from
him. He accepted his role, but it wasn't easy even for him! How much
harder is it for those of us who don't know the end of the story? But
it is possible to acknowledge your fears while accepting what you
have been called to do. What are you facing right now? Whether it be
a serious illness, a challenging period of career growth, parenthood,
or even death, remember that your anxiety is real and normal—and
that you have a choice of what to do with it.
Take time to reflect, meditate, or
pray in silence.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, you know what it's
like to be afraid. Because of your suffering, you know what it's like
to face sickness, pain, loneliness, loss, and death. Give me courage
like you had when I'm struggling so that I can keep moving toward the
future you have called me into. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Saturday, March 16th
Reading: Matthew 26:36-46
Reflection: Where do you think Jesus'
courage came from? Jesus was divine, but also human and experienced
the whole range of human emotions just like you. Do you think that
Jesus went to the cross without any doubt or fear, or do you think
that Jesus went to the cross in spite of fear, because you were worth
it? You were born into death and all the evil of this world just like
every other human that has ever lived, and the hard, bad, scary stuff
is inevitable. But you were also born into Christ's death through
your baptism, and as Christ went to the cross in order to be raised,
you can walk toward all your deaths, both big and small, knowing that
you, too, will be raised.
Take time to reflect, meditate, or
pray in silence.
Prayer: God, give me courage! Help me
when I'm terrified of what's to come, when I know that I will suffer
and be in pain and need you. I know I can't control the bad things
that happen to me, but please help me to see that the frailty of my
human suffering allows me to experience the fullness of your
resurrection. Be with me in that, and give me hope for what's to
come. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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