by Rev Douglas Brauner

God is true to his character

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Hiking to the top of Nimeo Mountain outside of Colorado Springs is a daunting task for a person my age who hasn’t done this kind of hiking in years. You gain two thousand feet in three miles. However, it’s one of my favorite hikes among the miles of trails in North Cheyenne Canyon.

Nimeo Mountain, Colorado

Clouds were forming when I reached the summit. This is usually a good thing when you’re taking landscape pictures. While clear blue skies are wonderful, they don’t translate well in photos.

On ascending the summit, I visualized a picture of these rocks bathed in light with the clouds creating deep shadows on the distant mountains.

I waited and waited and waited to get this shot. Rain was in the forecast and I knew that my time on top of the Mountain was soon coming to a close. Finally the clouds parted, the rocks glowed, and I snapped this picture.

What created this beautiful picture is not how God is described by James.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” 
James 1:17 English Standard Version

The shadows which make a stunning photo are not so beautiful when applied to God. God is consistent in his nature. He can be trusted when everything else is falling apart. He is not like a shadow that changes the landscape in the blink of an eye.

It might not feel that way, though. It might feel like God is silent, that he isn’t answering prayer, that his nature has changed. The world is a mess and at times our lives are a mess. We look for God, but he appears missing, that he is not being true to his character.

Jesus Christ is the good and perfect gift of God. Through his death and resurrection he has promised to be with you. His compassion is always for you even in life’s struggles. His love will never change like shifting shadows do. You can count on it even if you don’t feel it.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado