Keeping It Real (Part 2)
By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship
The last devotional I wrote was back in December, before my sabbatical. But in January, the day after, what I had hoped would be the start of a relaxing, spirit-filling time-away turned into a very unexpected revelation that it was time to sell the home I grew up in since I was one. (Don’t do the math, it was a long, looooong time ago.)
My six-week sabbatical wasn’t what I expected at all. BUT! It was exactly what I needed. God opened up my calendar, opened up my hours, and gave me breathing space, which got me through yet another “unimaginable.”
Fast forward to now. My deadline to write today’s devotional was, oh, two hours ago. But after sitting here for a while, I did not know what to write about because I’ve been in a seemingly constant state of “WHAT IN THE WORLD, GOD?!!!”
So I’m keeping it real yet again today.
This past Sunday was the first time Leon, Joy, and I were leading worship together in more than a year. People were missing. Mary, our fearless choir director, was missing. The entire choir was missing. And my mom was missing, still. I haven’t gone a day since she went to heaven three years ago that I haven’t felt her missing. I know I’m not the only one. I have received so many deeply beautiful messages from so many of you telling me of how you miss her, too.
When we closed the in-person service last Sunday after Pastor Dan led us in a service of Communion, we sang the simplest, of songs, “Glorify Thy Name.” I don’t know how long that lasted. A minute? Two minutes? But I knew something special was happening. Nothing was the same as it had been a year ago. Nothing was the same but God’s promises remained truer than ever.
I don’t know about tomorrow. BUT. I know WHO holds tomorrow. And while there is a crazy amount of stuff that I do NOT know, I know that HE is trustworthy.
And in the midst of all the turmoil, a friend reminded me that while Jesus spent his time in the desert, He was alone. I’m picturing Him screaming to God, begging to hear His voice. ANY inclination that His Father was still present. Satan was around multiple corners, tempting him to doubt. But Jesus continued on.
I often wonder, what must have been going through Jesus’s head? How did He continue on? Was He self-assured? Was He holding on mere threads of sanity? I’ve often heard that pilgrimages through the desert test one’s faith to the core. It is safe to say that the task that lay before Jesus was under pretty unreasonable circumstances, and perhaps, as Christians – that is EXACTLY what we are called to: to be prepared for the unreasonable. How can anything as otherworldly as the Power of God possibly make sense within the narrow confines of our normal way of living?! No. We are called to believe in the unreasonable. We are called to have faith in the extraordinary.
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
By our human standards, a life of this devotion sounds unreasonable, and eternal life sounds unreasonable!
Are you currently going through your own desert? Are you calling out to God, praying you’ll hear an answer and yet nothing returns to you? Not even a whisper? Praise Him in the storm, just as you would to praise Him in the desert.
I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
And once again
I say, "A-men" and it's still rainin'
But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I'll raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
[Song: Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns]
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that as we draw near to You, You draw near to us. Thank You that You are always with us. Thank You that You hear our every cry, in the desert or in the storm. Thank You for Your faithfulness and for never leaving our side, ever. In Your powerful Name, Jesus, Amen.
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