Zoom in
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by Darren Pope
Click here for your printable verse to carry with you today.
[Jesus] got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm (Matthew 8:26b).
Power on, plugged in and charging. Calendar invitation, camera angle, lighting, headphones, microphone and background checked, I click on ‘Join Now’. Okay, here we go, time to Zoom in!
Thirty minutes later, deep into my virtual meeting, no-one involved can see that I am in my living room, comfortable in shorts and bare feet, looking out the window, sipping coffee. Then it happens! Just as I unmute the microphone to speak, hot coffee gets knocked over, spills, scolds and makes a massive mess. My invisibility cloak has instantly vanished, my surroundings unceremoniously unveiled by loud squeals, exclamations and sounds of smashing on glass on the timber floor. Hmmm, the perfect storm!
Sleeping in the front of the boat doesn’t mean that Jesus was unaware, detached, unreachable or insensitive to the needs of his people. Right in the middle of the storm, Jesus was authentically present and in close relationship with them. In fact, Jesus models inspiring leadership while being impacted by a furious storm.
Surveying the daily ‘storm scene’ presented by COVID-19 potentially allows our broken humanity to prevail, unveiling our weaknesses, exposing our doubts and stripping away our cloak of safety. Jesus gets it! Our comfort and strength don’t rely on the narrowly focused image we project to the world. In our personal storm of uncertainty, health concerns or job insecurity, even as the waves of future fears sweep over us, Jesus calmly comes to us each day. It’s always God’s work. His invitation to be together is personal and real. It’s okay to zoom in with a clear focus on our struggles, doubts and fears. It’s okay to question, wrestle, pray, thank and ask. Through it all, Jesus sits next to us with his unconditional love.
Invitation received. Microphone and headphones on. Okay, here we go, time to zoom in!
God of relationship, you are my calm and my peace place. Thank you for always being real and personal as you come to me each day. Thank you for the invitation to sit with you today and to zoom in on how I am doing life right now. Thank you for the hope that we will walk together again tomorrow. Amen.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
