The Quiet of the Day

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14 ESV).

It’s really early on Christmas day as I listen to some soft, inspirational music and begin to write a few devotionals for the next week. The weather outside is foggy and cool. The house is quiet. No one else is up yet. The coffee is good. And, I am brought to this wonderful thought of the meme I found, the sentiment having been written by Mary Anne Radmacher: Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voce at the end of the day, saying… “I will try again tomorrow.” It is one that I hope you can adopt today. I’ve written devotionals that were theologically instructive. I’ve had lengthy series in exposition of a particular book of the Bible, or topic of the liturgical season. I’ve written serious, thought-provoking pieces. I’ve added inspirational pictures, videos, and music to some of them. I hope no two were redundant, though I’m sure they appear that way from time to time. In all, my prayer and hope is that I may have written some little bit of encouragement for you keep walking your path of this journey we call life. It is different for all of us. Life sometimes appears to be like a vast green meadow, blooming with wildflowers and the sun brightly shining on the horizon; and, sometimes it appears as a dark, foreboding path through the unknown valleys of life. No matter our age, gender, or political disposition, we cannot escape those moments of challenge and trial. As often as not we find failure at the end of the day. So, I simply begin today, like the Apostle Paul praying for you that you will find the end of your day with all endurance and patience with joy (v. 11). You can. As hard as it seems, as incredible is the thought of merely taking a step forward, you can do it. The God of the ages, our Savior, Jesus, has given each of us the means to finish our course. Whatever failure, pain, or challenge you experienced today, there is a day coming when none of that will have mattered. You will have perfect peace and freedom. Read it again: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (v. 14). Find the quiet of this day and remember that!