Frankly Devoted

Lord, we come to you today thankful that we serve a God who sees us through. Just as the stone was rolled back on Easter morning, you bring new life to us. We pray for all mourning the loss of Pope Francis. Today's darkness is tomorrow's light. We are in a season of change and uncertainty, but we know that you are the God of Hope who fills us with joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in Hope. 

The world can be a chaotic place, and in recent months, it has felt even more chaotic and troubling. I’ve found it hard to balance being informed and needing to tune out for my own sanity. Rabbi Irwin Keller wrote a prayer called “A prayer before reading the news.” In it, he prays “let me learn what I need to know in order to be of my greatest use, without being overwhelmed by despair.” It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, overworked, OVER IT! How can we give it OUR best, when fear, worry, and anxiety can get the best of us? Apostle Paul wrote to the early church in Philippi, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) I remember when I first heard about this “Peace that passes understanding.” When I was a child, we sang a song in Sunday School about this peace t...