Our devotional for Saturday was prepared by Cindy Sindel, a member of Christ UMC.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 15-17 (NIV)
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Reflections
During this time of pandemic we have all felt, at one time or another, that we are vulnerable. We are vulnerable to the virus itself. We are vulnerable to depression and loneliness and frustration. We are uncertain of the future, what the “new normal” will be. Indeed we are “hard pressed on every side.”
Yet there is also a renewal of faith; faith in our fellow man; faith that a vaccine will be found; faith that the country will ‘reopen;’ faith that we will soon be able to visit with friends and family in person.During this time we see the resurgence of kindness, of caring about others, of creativity.
It shows that we, as a people, have not been crushed or in despair or abandoned or destroyed.It may seem trite or flippant to say that these trials are for our ‘benefit.’ But I believe that through these trials we have proven that we are not losing heart. We can see the glory of God and God’s grace flowing through everyone who helps others or does a good deed or lends a listening ear.
Each day I can see that we are being ‘renewed day by day.’
Prayer
Thank you, gracious God, for not abandoning us in this time of crisis. Thank you for allowing us to be renewed each day with faith in our fellow man and faith that we will achieve an eternal glory. Amen.