Ordinary Time 
Pause
There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.
But sometimes it doesn’t.
Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.
Veronica Roth in Allegiant (2013)
Listen
But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you possibly give me, since I still have no children? The head of my household is Eliezer, a man from Damascus.” He continued, “Since you haven’t given me any children, the head of my household will be my heir.”
The Lord’s word came immediately to him, “This man will not be your heir. Your heir will definitely be your very own biological child.”
Genesis 15:2-4
Think
At one time or another, I’m sure all of us have found ourselves in a situation where we felt like a particular outcome was inevitable. We were too far behind at halftime, or our grades were too low at mid-term, or our parents argued too loudly, too often, leaving us to wonder if divorce was on the horizon. I don’t know what it was for you, but I’m sure the feeling was the same — you felt like there was no way to turn things around, short of a miracle. You were going to lose. You were going to fail. You were going to watch from a distance while everything fell apart.
That’s how Abram felt. Things weren’t going his way. What he had hoped for and dreamed of for years wasn’t coming to fruition. Or at least that’s how things appeared. But that’s not how things turned out.
Sure, sometimes the inevitable happens, and no one is surprised when it does. However, there are also times when the impossible happens. So regardless of what situation you find yourself in, be brave, and don’t lose hope. God is full of surprises.
Chris Robertson
Pray
God, if I’m being honest, sometimes life can be really hard. Things don’t always work out as planned, making it easy to lose hope. So please give me the strength to persevere, and help me to trust you today and every day, regardless of how things appear.
Go
In Scripture we are told that God is at work in the world.
And that God’s work is also our work.
May we then go into the world and be brave,
ever ready to give of ourselves,
ever trusting in the goodness of God.
