by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Don’t Give Up! God Wins!

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

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Romans 13:12 English Standard Version

As I have probably mentioned in other devotions, much of photography is a dance; a dance between light and shadows; a dance where the light shines brightly and where it seems to disappear in the shadows. This dance is what makes photography dramatic and powerful.

Life is a dance between light and shadows.

Lately I have been thanking God that I’m privileged to join in this dance. You might be surprised by that prayer. It might surprise you until you think about the opposite. One thing that breaks my heart is when people stop dancing because the dance is too difficult.

I know family members and friends who have stopped dancing with light and darkness because the footwork is too difficult. It is difficult, sometimes extremely difficult, to balance the light of God’s love in Jesus with the darkness of the old Adam and Eve with whom we wrestle. It’s difficult to live a life of faith in the One who died and rose for us while at the same time dealing with selfishness, pride, and addictions. Some people give up the fight, throw up their hands, and walk deeper into the shadows of darkness.

However, it is grace that sets us free to daily dance with light and darkness; to realize that we are both sinner and saint to quote the old cliché. Paul’s words above are an encouragement to keep going and never give up. In the purposeful mixing of metaphors, we are encouraged to do battle with the darkness and not give up.

Light has overcome the darkness. Victory is already guaranteed. Jesus danced with darkness on his cross and won when he danced out of the tomb.

My friends, don’t give up the dance! God wins!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado