20 We put our hope in the LORD.
He is our help and our shield..
21 In him our hearts rejoice,.
for we trust in his holy name..
22 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD,.
for our hope is in you alone.
– Psalm 33:22, NLT
I was moved by the words Pastor Debbie shared yesterday in worship, words by author Anne Lamott (the same author whose book Help, Thanks, Wow is serving as the inspiration for our July sermon series). In a Facebook post on May 31, Lamott offered these words:
“I wish I had my Sunday School kids today, during the devastation of the pandemic and the terrifying images of murder and protest. I would tell that I am lost, too, but from the wise old pinnacle of my years, I would assure them that we can trust God no matter how things look and how long things take. The pain inside us and right in front of us is nothing compared to the power of love that surrounds us.”
There is such power in those closing words: “The pain inside us and right in front of us is nothing compared to the power of love that surrounds us.” There is a great deal of pain right now, friends. Pain throughout this world and this nation. Pain right in front of us, in our communities and neighborhoods and families. Pain inside us, even. That pain is real. It cannot be ignored or dismissed or explained away.
And yet, even while that pain is great, it is (in Lamott’s words) “nothing compared to the power of love that surrounds us.” Great as that pain is, it is no match for holy love.
So today, in light of whatever pains you may face, may you echo this prayer from the psalms: “Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone” (Psalm 33:22, NLT). May you place your hope in love that already surrounds you, the love that is more than a match for your pain.
After all:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
Want to know more?
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- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
