Listen

You calm the roaring seas; calm the roaring waves, calm the noise of the nations. Those who dwell on the far edges stand in awe of your acts. You make the gateways of morning and evening sing for joy. You visit the earth and make it abundant, enriching it greatly by God’s stream, full of water. You provide people with grain because that is what you’ve decided.

Psalm 65:7-9

Think

There is nothing quite like the drama of a close race: photo finishes and come-from-behind wins and go-ahead points scored as the clock expires. In the most improbable of victories, pandemonium reigns! And then, after the raucousness of the crowd dissipates, and everyone files home, what’s left is the quiet of the pavement or the calm after stadium lights switch off. As the human in all of this, it’s natural to feel let down after these heights.

We know we are running a good race, meant to reveal the glory and power of God. The psalmist describes the awe of those who perceive this revelation, but the focus remains squarely on God’s celebration. Out of the tumult comes the finish line: God’s realm come to Earth. God meets us there, prepared to meet the letdown with revival, richness, and peace for humankind.

Jenny Oliver Hinderer

Question to Ponder:

What of the way God celebrates most closely resembles your own habits of celebration?

Pray

Victorious God! Cheer me on to the finish line, so that upon seeing your triumph, together we share the joy of raucous celebration! When the celebration comes to a close, thank you for the recovery you provide. In your enduring name, Amen.

Go

As the hours of the coming day pass, calm presence and bustling activity will ebb and flow.

God is near. God renews. Moment by moment. Each moment for the next moment.