“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea….Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:1, 22, NIV).
In this psalm, we hear from someone who long ago experienced distress, fear, isolation. Then, he also had that moment when God’s word resonated and reminded him that the Lord would sustain us. The Lord will never let the righteous stumble. Turning to God in times of struggle helps us survive.
Participating in faith practices – daily reading of scripture, personal prayer, and quiet meditation – will not remove our fears or feelings, but they can provide hope.
I encourage you to think about what spiritual practices are part of your daily life. Find moments where you can feel God’s presence and hear God’s voice.
Knowing that God is with us strengthens my resolve to get through one more day, to tell myself to be patient, to seek out connections with people, and to continue to live as if the gospel is true.
This message is excerpted from “Participating in faith practices offers hope” by Jennifer Michael from the June 22, 2020, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, 444.
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