by Rev Douglas Brauner

Finding hope in the mercy of God

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

This bench was part of a collection of benches on display in Avon, Colorado in the summer of 2019. It was called, Mountains of Hope and was sponsored by SpeakUp ReachOut, an organization dedicated to preventing suicide. Their desire was for people to sit on this bench to remember, reflect and revitalize hope.

Avon, Colorado

Isn’t that we’re about in the Christian community? Aren’t we the people who help others remember God’s faithfulness, reflect on his goodness and revitalize a hope rooted in his love for them?

Remember,

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.”
Psalm 77:11 English Standard Version

When people lose hope, we invite them to remember God’s faithfulness to his promises. Remembering is about recalling Christ, his life, death, and presence with us. It can be difficult to look back and see the hand prints of God in our lives until we see Jesus as the One who has fulfilled all of God’s promises.

Reflect,

“Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD.”
Psalm 107:43 New International Version

When people lose hope, we invite them to reflect on God’s love. God’s love is deeper than feelings. God’s love is pictured in the brutality of our Savior hanging on his cross because we’ve lost hope. In love he bears the curse of sin for us, burying that sin in his grave and giving us life that we might breathe again.

Revitalize Hope,

“O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, because with the LORD there is mercy and with him there is unlimited forgiveness.”
Psalm 130:7 God’s Word to the Nations

When people lose hope, we invite them to revitalize hope in the mercy of God. For some people there is an overwhelming feeling that what they’ve done is so bad that not even God, if there is a God, can forgive them. God’s mercy is new every morning. Forgiveness is God’s gift that revitalizes hope.

The world thirsts for hope. May we, the baptized of God, be the bench upon which people experience God’s hope.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado