The theme for the month of June:

Do Not Fear

Genesis 21:17-19

And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

Through no fault of her own Hagar had been banished from the camp of Abraham.  She and her young son were perishing from thirst in the wilderness,  She places her son under the shade of a bush and moves off a little ways so she does not have to watch him die.  She cries out to the Lord.  God hears her prayers, tells her not to fear and then to open her eyes.  She sees a well of water that will revive and sustain them both.  

Though life difficulties do not always end so positively, the words Hagar heard are words for us as well.  When we are struggling and maybe feel that life is hopeless we are reminded to open our eyes, to see the resources that are around us.  We sometimes do not want to see  then for the help comes from people we do not like, or cause us to humbly admit that we can’t do it alone or to receive that help would force us to move in directions that we vowed we would never go.  Stubbornness is often a key element in our refusal to see what resources God has placed before us to help us. 

I recall many times when I felt overwhelmed.  I gritted my teeth and kept on struggling, becoming more and more exhausted.  When I was at my lowest energy I would often pause, take a deep breath and finally ask, “God, how do you want to help me?”, instead of telling God what I wanted in the way of help.  Almost always, just like Hagar, I would see things I had been blind to, because of pride and stubbornness. 

God never forsakes us.  It might feel at times that we are alone, lost and without hope.  In these moments the word of God to Hagar is ours, “Do not be afraid.  Open your eyes.” When we do we are usually amazed at what God can and is doing in our lives if we will just see.  

Prayer

Loving God, When we feel abandoned like Hagar, strengthen us.  Ease our fears and help us to open our eyes to see the help you have provided.  AMEN.

Today’s devotional was written by Bill Green and read by Joey Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.