Finding Comfort in the Familiar

Friday, February 22, 2013                                   Psalm 27    

The Junior High Youth Group & Claire Harris

            I originally selected Psalm 27 as scripture for my Lenten devotion because of its familiar quality.  However, when I sat down to write a reflection on this scripture, every sentence I began sounded trite and each thought that I had struck me as unoriginal.  So, after being frustrated that I couldn’t come up with some sort of amazing, earth-shattering devotion (I worked hard for that M.Div., after all), I decided that I would invite the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade participants in junior high youth group to help me by sharing their thoughts on this passage.  Here is what these brilliant and faithful middle school students told me after several readings of this passage:

·      You can always count on God to be there.  You always have someone on whom you can depend.

·      Because God is always there, you shouldn’t be afraid of anything.  God will get you through.

·      Even if no one loves you down on earth, God will love you and be there for you.

·      Whatever is going wrong, you have God to help you move through and persevere.

·      God will always give you shelter and protect you.

These youth shared stories of times when they were stressed out about a test or a sporting event, or even scared by a horror movie.  During those times, the knowledge of God’s presence and the ability to communicate with God through prayer comforted them.

            I’m so grateful for the reminder from my middle school youth that no concern of ours is too small for God.  In the midst of the little and the big stuff, when we are overwhelmed, scared, or lonely, God is there, in the mess, beside us.  Our Creator God loves each of us so much that we are never left alone.  Even though God’s abiding presence with us may be a familiar message, it is an amazing and powerful one.

Prayer: Dear God, help me to draw comfort and peace from the knowledge that you are always with me and that I am never alone. Amen.

Daily Challenge: Respond to God’s gift of grace and presence by being present for someone in your life.