by Pastor Douglas Brauner

God Holds Time in His Hand

3:37 pm.

That was the time that I took this picture. The clock will forever read 3:37 pm, but time never stands still. It is 6:56 am as I write this devotion and the clock on the Pioneer Museum has changed. The building that houses this clock, like the Elizabeth Tower that houses Big Ben, remains unchanged as the clock continues to turn.

“Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.”
Psalm 62:8 English Standard Version

The psalmist encourages us to trust in God “at all times,” to put our faith in him in all the seasons of our lives. Time is relentless. As the minute hand circles the clock, it brings with it seasons of joy and sorrow, of tears and smiles. The writer reminds us that God is a refuge for us no matter the season in which we find ourselves.

In putting our trust in God, we also admit that we cannot trust other things to save us. Our bank accounts will not save us. Our families will not save us. Our sports teams will not save us. Only the God who sent Jesus to his cross and his empty tomb can save us. It is this God alone who is our refuge.

“My times are in your hand…”
Psalm 31:15a ESV

In the relentlessness of time, it is comforting to know that the seasons of our lives are in God’s hands. He is intimate with our joys and sorrows, with our tears and smiles because he holds them in his hands. Like the building that houses this clock, God never changes even though our circumstances fluctuate.

The phone rings and life changes dramatically.

The doctor states that he has complicated news to share with us and life changes dramatically.

Our boss says, “You’ve been promoted!” and life changes dramatically.

Though time presses forward and the seasons of our lives come and go, God will always be our refuge for he holds time in his hand.

By the way, I finished writing and editing this devotion at 7:43 am.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado