Today’s reading: Genesis 47-48, Psalm 25, Galatians 3
Yesterday afternoon (Friday 1/20) I attended a funeral service for my dear friend and co-worker Julie. She was an amazing and fearless woman who never met a problem she didn’t think she could solve or an issue she couldn’t work through. It didn’t matter if the problem was her own or someone else’s. When she was invited to the conversation, she dove in and went right to work. Her strategic approach, innovative ideas, and a can-do attitude made her someone I always wanted on my team.
Friday afternoon funerals aren’t usually a great way to start the weekend. My heart is so sad. I don’t know why God’s plan was to take her from this earth so fast. But I trust his plan, and because of Julie’s faith, I am at peace. See, Julie’s solution to the cancer problem she couldn’t solve on her own was to put it in God’s hands. Her words to me were, “God always makes his presence known in tough situations.” And while I didn’t get the answer I wanted this time, which was to restore Julie to the friend I knew and loved, I know she is in Heaven. She is free from all sickness and sorrow.
God made his presence known to me today. My heart is comforted as I make David’s Psalm 25 prayer my own:
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust (Psalm 25:1).
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish (Psalm 25:16-17).
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 25:4-5).
Amen.