Wesley Church

People Blessing People

Devotional October 7

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” 6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”

-Hebrews 13:5-6, NRSV

    “What do you remember learning in Sunday School?” It’s the question I’ve asked friends and family (and all of you!). One of my seminary classmates offered a profound response to that question. She said, “I learned that adults don’t know all the answers.”

Adults don’t know all the answers. That’s a big realization for a child. Kids live in a world with plenty of answers. When they go to school, they learn that there are clear, right-and-wrong answers to spelling tests and math quizzes. At home, their endless strings of the question “Why?” are met with answers, even when that answer is simply, “Because I said so!” Even the hard questions, like “Where do babies come from?” have answers… although we as parents or teachers or caregivers don’t quite know how to share those answers. 

In many ways, Sunday School — the place where kids begin learning about God and faith, the place where they begin making spiritual discoveries and connections — may be the very first place where they find that no one can provide clear, easy, satisfying answers to some of their questions. It may be the very first place where they wrestle with those deep questions, those fundamental and important life questions, those questions that don’t necessarily have “answers” at all. It may be the very first place where they begin to come to terms with the fact that some things are just beyond our understanding.

And hopefully it’s also one of the very first places where they find something even more meaningful than a simple answer. Hopefully it’s one of the very first places where they find a promise: “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NRSV).

After all, in the darkest and most difficult moments of our lives, it isn’t usually an answer that brings us the greatest comfort. It is that enduring promise from God: Never will I leave you or forsake you.

I’ll admit it: sometimes, I want answers. In covid-tide, I really want answers. But if I had to choose between a clear answer from God or the unfailing presence of God — I’ll choose presence every time.

Blessings,
Pastor Candy

Get into the Sunday School spirit by joining us for our “Rally in the Gallery” — a virtual Rally Day pancake breakfast — on Saturday October 17 at 10:00 AM.. It’ll be a great way to connect with your church family!
RSVP here: https://forms.gle/gTbiVqtmfj2FJs7o7

Even in this season — especially in this season — may you lean on God’s unfailing presence. As you do, may you remember:

Our God is bigger than coronavirus. 
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too. 
We are people blessing people. 
We are Wesley Church.   

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