Wednesday, September 16, 2020  

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Psalm 105:37–45

Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold,
   and there was no one among their tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed,
   for dread of them had fallen upon it.
He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quails,
   and gave them food from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
   it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.
So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.
He gave them the lands of the nations,
   and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples,
   that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord! (NRSV)

Reflection
Over the summer, Pastor Rocky and I have been doing a series with the youth on waiting. I have therefore spent a lot of time thinking about waiting. Thinking about how much of our lives we spend waiting: waiting to be tall enough to ride the roller coaster, waiting to go to school, waiting to be a grown-up, waiting to retire. Often I think about waiting as getting to the light at the end of a tunnel, always feeling like the grass is greener on the other side.

I think that is why I struggled with this psalm. As I read it, it feels like a celebration of the light at the end of the tunnel. After years of slavery in Egypt for the Hebrew people, God lives up to the covenant with Abraham and delivers the Israelites to the Promised Land, preforming wonderful miracles. Reading this psalm feels like getting told, “Remember, this too shall pass.” Yes, I believe God is the God of grand gestures and wonderful miracles, but I also believe God is the God of the quiet moments. God is there in the tunnel with you, providing points of light—if only you stop focusing on the bright light at the end. And that is something worth celebrating.

Prayer
Thank you for being the God of all moments, big and small. Thank you for being with me in the waiting, not only in the light. Amen.

Written by Katie Patterson, Youth Ministry Program Manager

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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