by Richelle Hecker

Our Father is With Us

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

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
Psalm 68:5 New International Version

I did not know at the time of my husband’s death the strength of this short verse. I had a lot of questions for God. How could He be a father to the fatherless? Would He be the one to teach my kids to throw a baseball and walk my daughters down the aisle? How would He defend me when I was threatened? I really had no idea what this would look like.

Sometimes heaven seems very far away. When you envision God in his holy dwelling, where exactly is that? He is not housed on a mountain, or in the clouds, or on some distant planet. He is too big for those places and they are not eternal.

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:16 English Standard Version.

God set eternity in the hearts of mankind, and as baptized children of God, we are the temple where His Spirit dwells. This is beyond comprehension and yet I know it to be true. God has said so throughout the old and new testaments. I also know this is true because I have witnessed His presence there.

I have spent years now testing the truth in this Psalm. When a child was struggling, not safe, disobedient, hurting, or a myriad of other conditions I called out to God who promised me He lived within each of them and He spoke to their hearts and minds. When I need Him to be my defender, He never fails.

No, God will not be holding my daughters’ arms down the aisle, but He will be with them. He may not teach my children to throw a ball, but He works through His church to grow and disciple them in all things. This is our calling both inside and outside of the building where we worship. We are His temple and He is the living breathing capstone.

It is not always through death that we are left without a father or spouse. Know that He is always with you to guide, protect, help, teach, and provide. He dwells in us and in those around us, so that we are never alone.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado