My Faith Looks Up to Thee (ELW 759, v. 3)
Devotion
1 My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away,
oh, let me from this day
be wholly thine!
2 May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire;
as thou hast died for me,
oh, may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire!
3 While life's dark maze I tread
and griefs around me spread,
be thou my guide;
bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow's tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from thee aside.
4 When ends life's transient dream,
when death's cold, sullen stream
shall o'er me roll;
blest Savior, then, in love
fear and distrust remove;
oh, bear me safe above,
a ransomed soul!
Text: Ray Palmer, 1808-1887
I recently reminded my congregation that our life's journey doesn't always follow the path we expect to take. Sometimes we end up on a dark maze and don't know where to go or what to do. We all make plans about where we want to go and how we expect to get there. Rarely does life go perfectly or according to plan.
Nobody maps out their life and says, "Let's add divorce or a broken relationship with a family member." Nobody says, "Why don't I add addiction to drugs or alcohol?" Nobody makes plans that include cancer. Nobody expects to be the caretaker of a parent with dementia. It's not in the grand plans we make. But life happens.
God is not absent when life doesn't fit our plans. God's not ignoring us. God is listening. Loving. Leading others to walk alongside us. God is present. When the goin' gets tough, Jesus Christ has promised to do the impossible. For you and for me.
Prayer
Blessed Savior, thank you for walking with us in our sadness and grief. Help us to lift up others who mourn and point them toward you for hope and healing. Amen.