One of the darkest times for Israel was a period of exile in Babylon. Their homeland had been conquered and burned, the temple destroyed. Most of those who survived were carted off to enemy territory where they would be forced to start life anew.

And yet, it was in the midst of this time of travail that some of Israel’s most sweeping, extravagant claims for the goodness of God were spoken and written as scripture.

In Jeremiah 31 we read, “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations… For the Lord has ransomed Jacob… They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden… Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.”

When Jeremiah first spoke these words, this was not a present reality, but rather a future hope. What an awesome testament of faith!

My prayer for you is that when things seem to be at their worst, God would grant you the courage to hold out for hope. May you remember how God has carried you in the past. And may you notice God’s healing, guiding hand already at work here and now.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we thank you for the witness of scripture – that beyond the despair, beyond the grief, beyond the problems we face, there is hope for a better tomorrow. We trust that you are good and that for you nothing is impossible. Fill us again this day with courage and strength; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Many years ago now, I friend sent me an email titled, “God won’t ask…” It read:

God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but he’ll ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but he’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but he’ll ask if they dictated your life.

God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but he’ll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but he’ll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but he’ll ask about the content of your character.

The list goes on, but you get the idea. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobile rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to mankind.”

As we reflect on our own lives, may we continue to reflect on how we judge success.

Let us pray: Loving God, we are told so often, in so many different ways, that we will find joy and happiness by having more. We have been disappointed time and again. Today, we remember that true joy and meaning are discovered mostly in relationships, generosity, and service to others and in a life given to you. Meet us this day wherever we are on the journey. We ask in Christ’s name. Amen.

In the seventh chapter of his book, the prophet Micah describes the sad state of affairs of the world around him: the faithful are nowhere to be found; injustice and corruption reign, families are falling apart at the seams.

Despite all this, in verse 7 he says, “As for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

So often we find ourselves amidst the darkness. We see hungry children in our communities, we hear about violence or injustice. We receive a bad diagnosis, or we worry about our jobs or our parents, or our friends. During these moments, it can be easy to slip into bitterness or cynicism, or despair.

The prophet Micah encourages us. He doesn’t ignore the issues or pretend they aren’t real. No. He names them. He laments. But then he shows us the way forward, the way of hope.

In a recent Wednesday night study, our small group was encouraged to share with God in prayer, exactly what was on our hearts. Sometimes we think, “God already knows what I‘m facing. God already knows what I’m going through.” Which is true enough. However, something powerful happens to us when we are able to speak our lament, to name our prayer, to open our hearts.

In the trying moments of life, Micah’s words invite us to turn to the One who has promised to hear us, to share what is on our hearts, and then to wait in trust.

In the New Testament, James reminds us, “Draw near to the Lord and he will draw near to you.”

Let us pray: God of Grace, we all know the feelings of anxiety and stress. Often we feel the pain of the world around us. It is part of our shared humanity. I pray today especially for those who need you near. Give each of us the courage to face, and even to name our fears. In spite of the darkness, help us to trust you. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In his first letter to the Corinthians (12:12-13), the Apostle Paul wrote:

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

In other words, God has called all types of people together, from all types of backgrounds. And there are all types of labels we can use. In those days the labels were Jew and Greek, slave and free. Today we have other labels. We might say, black and white, rich and poor, republican and democrat, American, South African, Philippino, Mexican, physically challenged, mentally challenged, young, old. All labels. But underneath the labels are human beings – people that God created, that God loves.

And what Paul is telling them is that you all have this in common – Christ died for each one of you. And through your baptism, Christ has called each and every one of you into his one body – the church.

In these precarious times, our nation continues to be extremely divided. We are polarized on any number of issues, and there is a tremendous amount of anger and even hatred among us. As a result, the wounds are deep. Our common life is fragile and less rich.

It is precisely into our context, that Paul’s words speak to us as followers of Christ. His words echo one of Jesus’s most fervent prayers, that we would be one as he and the Father are one (John 17:21).

Today, I pray that we would each do our part to take the first steps toward healing. May we be quick to listen, slow to speak (James 1:19). May we look to the interests of others before looking to our own interests (Philippians 2:4). And, as we reclaim the unity we have in Christ, may we experience the fullness of his peace.

Let us pray: We pray today, O God, for healing. Use us, even us, as instruments of your grace, mercy, and peace, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

In the novel about life in a mental hospital, entitled One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, these words were uttered by Randall Patrick McMurphy: “That’s the first thing that got me thinking about this place, there wasn’t anybody laughing. I haven’t heard a real laugh since I came through that door……When you lose your laugh, you lose your footing. “

Because of the level of depression and pain in such institutions, a heavy dose of laughter is sorely needed. Through laughter, inner torments work themselves out. It is the medicine needed to revive a wracked heart or withering spirit. We need sure footing along life’s rugged paths. A steady supply of laughter gives us footing. For when I complain, scowl, or retaliate, I am caught in the clutches of cursedness. I am miles from blessing anything. When I laugh, life giggles and shakes in delight.

We are reminded that the Gospel is not boring, it is not ho-hum, it is good news. Ta-Da! In Proverbs, we read, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

Let us pray: God of all precious things, who hears our pain even when tears block our words, create in us a heart of laughter and hope. May your Spirit still the anxiety of those who live with enormous pressure and stress. So bring us comfort where we need comfort, but where we need justice, let there be love. Lord, you have become an undeniable presence, a reliable friend, the one who walks in when the rest of the world walks away. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.