by Rev Douglas Brauner

Seeing God when God isn’t seen.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!” 
Psalm 38:21-22 English Standard Version

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

We don’t know if this bush is alive or dead.

What we do know is that there are two elements working against it…two things that have the potential of killing this bush. One has to do with the bush itself, and the other with outside forces.

This bush has not chosen the most helpful place to grow. The roots, exposed to the elements, search for nutrients in the crevices formed through the natural process of erosion. Only a few feet from this plant is soil that would better nourish this plant so that it could thrive.

If you look closely at the tips of the plant you will also note that people have broken off branches. This bush has taken root in a popular area for tourists. People gather on the rocks surrounding this bush seated to watch the slow migration of the sun descending behind Pikes Peak. Some of these visitors take the liberty of breaking off branches, threatening the life of the bush.

There are two things that threaten our life in Christ.

Like this bush, we plant ourselves in areas that are not nutrient rich for our souls.

Like this bush, Satan, the world, and our flesh attack the life we have in Jesus with the purpose of driving us away from God’s mercy.

In Psalm 38, King David feels both the weight of his sin and the struggles of outside influences. He cries out for mercy to God, yet he doesn’t feel that mercy. His faith holds on to God even when he doesn’t see God. Our faith holds on to God even though we might not see his mercy.

The empty cross is assurance that we are not alone.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado