Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, January 22, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Coming through challenges is exhilarating. We all face them. Big or small, minor inconveniences or life-threatening disasters, short-term hiccups or chronic miseries. We meet them as they come, and with God’s help and the help of our friends, families, communities, professionals, and more, we endure them, sometimes with good spirits, sometimes on the verge of total collapse.
But then, if we are lucky, there comes that moment of release—that single event or sudden realization that the problem has been solved, the pain relieved, and a new life opens in front of us. We are like the Israelites being told they could go home from the Babylonian exile, their fortunes restored. They are overwhelmed with joy. Those who left in misery, bearing the seeds of their lives and shared identity, came home rejoicing, bearing the fruits of their faith and commitment. In those moments, it feels like anything is possible.
Then, of course, life settles back to normal, and new challenges arise. But may we always remember those times of joy at the overcoming of adversity, so that we might meet the next one with patience and serenity, trusting in God’s love for us and desire for our flourishing.
What’s the greatest challenge I have overcome in my life?
