by Kala Loptien

Part of the Plan

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this Sound Cloud link.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 ESV

As a little girl, I vividly remember standing in a giant circle on the perimeter of my grandparents’ Lutheran country church. This beautiful mainstay in that rural Nebraska community, with its deep (German) roots ran well over a century strong. The lights were dimmed. The flicker of candles soon spread. All was calm. All was bright. Then voices joined together, singing the German words to “Silent Night,” a cappella. I can still hear those familiar voices.

I looked into the history of this mesmerizing, world-renowned Christmas song. The author, Josef Mohr, penned the poem while pursuing the priesthood. His early years, however, were fraught with family drama and loss. In fact, the family name was “unloved” in the town of Salzburg. He was eventually taken in as a foster child by the curate for the Catholic cathedral.* Music was his outlet — where he found peace and comfort.

After being ordained, Mohr made friends with a local teacher and organist, Franz Gruber. In need of a carol, he brought his “Stille Nacht” poem to Gruber on Christmas Eve. Since the organ was broken, Gruber arranged the piece for guitar. That night, for the very first time, “Silent Night” filled the church with words that would forever be part of our Christmas Eve worship.

Isn’t it overwhelming and fascinating how God works for good in our lives? Despite what we might think, our pasts, our struggles, our brokenness and broken hearts…HE has our days ordained. We don’t always, and may never understand it all. But we know that He makes beauty from ashes. God knew we were incapable of saving ourselves. He sent His son to live for us and die for us. Josef Mohr’s story is another striking testament to God’s great pursuit. As you sing “Silent Night” (or “Stille Nacht”) let your heart rest in the calm comfort of His embrace, as you consider the ways that night changed your life forever.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

*The History Behind Silent Night, thegospelcoalition.org