Bible Verse:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Ps. 34:18 (NIV)

“You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.” – John 16:20

Reflection:

As practitioners, we often want to do, do, do. I keep to-do lists everywhere, that help remind me of the things I want to accomplish in a day. But before rushing off into the day, the Word speaks, and sometimes not in new ways but in ways of reminders. This morning it was another reminder that it is not me, but Christ that does the work.

All throughout Paul’s letters he reminds us this truth. This should remind us too, and truthfully FREE us from the pressure of restoring anyone’s joy in their brokenness. While serving in Turkey, an Egyptian friend kept reminding me that despite how broken I was, how broken the refugees’ lives were that sat around us, or how broken any efforts we might do were – God is sovereign, and He will accomplish his work. Great reminders!

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us when we forget the truths of your Word and of who you are. Forgive our “do-it” moments, when they are not prompted by your Spirit. We so long to share YOU will so many we serve, but we know we cannot do that without you.

So, won’t you restore joy in our brokenness today. Help us to soak up your Word, listen to your leading, and walk in this joy with a renewed spirit in order to share this love. Show us reminders, when we stumble, and bring others in faith to point these out when we cannot see for ourselves.

Let us be vessels to point refugees to you, and show them the ONE who redeems the broken and restores joy they never dreamed they might see.

Amen.

Practical reflection to carry in to your day:

Take a moment to write down a verse that reminds you that God is in control of all this, and take it with you. (write it on a card, write it on your mirror – with a dry erase marker – so you can see it, or save it to your phone’s lock screen) He is with you today. “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6)

Beth Taylor (M.A., Humanitarian Disaster Leadership Class of '19) works with Baptist Global Response. To learn more about the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, visit us online.