Recently, during a meeting with our board of directors, Vice President for Academic Affairs Joy Moore led us in the practice of Dwelling in the Word.
We explored Isaiah 25, in which the prophet praises God for doing wonderful things, even in the midst of destruction and ruin. “The Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,” Isaiah says. “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. … Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (vv. 8-9).
It can be hard to find resiliency when there is so much doom and gloom. Certainly, if we were expected to conjure it up for ourselves, we would never be able to do so.
But when our resiliency is grounded in the promises of God, it is possible to find hope and strength.
Of course, resiliency isn’t about fixing a false smile on our face or pretending to be impervious to trials. It’s about reaching out and relying on one another and God, while being gentle to ourselves.
The prophet reminds us that “God will wipe away the tears from all faces.” That means it’s okay to have them! God is with us in our time of need, and we can be with each other to bear witness to God’s promises when any of us forgets.
I pray that as each of you endures the particular stresses and strains of your personal situation, you will find respite in the love of God who promises that “death will be swallowed up forever” (Isaiah 25:8).
Strength and peace,
Robin J. Steinke, President
Luther Seminary