Devotion: Hold On
Please take a few moments to read Romans 6:1-11
Holy Week often feels like a whirlwind; as if a storm blew through and jostled everything around, leaving us tired and weary. It is busy, yes, especially for those who lead ministries; but even more than that—it takes us on a journey that ranges from joy and celebration mixed with hope for the future, to deep sorrow and pain and lost hope. And in between all of that there is fear, confusion, skepticism, anger, and sadness. All of this adds up to an overwhelming week to say the least, not just for Ministry Leaders, but for all of us.
This is why I’m excited for our new worship series titled, “Hold On”. So many times in life, even when we’re involved in our church lives and attentive to our faith, it can feel like we are slowly losing our grip on God. It seems fitting to reflect on the pace of change in our world and the whirlwind effect it has on every aspect of our lives right after we’ve been through the whirlwind of Holy Week.
Honestly though, I think that many of us are feeling this way at the end of every day, not just after a busy week. We end our days feeling exhausted and depleted, with decision fatigue directing the way we respond to others and how we treat ourselves.
The good news though, is that the Easter promise for us is not just an eternal home with God. It is also a daily renewal of life. Romans 6 tells us of this truth. In our baptism, we die to sin and are made alive again in the same resurrection that Jesus won. And this isn’t only a future reality, it is a daily reality. Every single day we have a new opportunity to “hold on” to our faith as the central driving force of each word we say, action we take, and decision we make. And even on the days when our grip has loosened by the end of the day, we are still loved and still renewed through this baptismal promise.
So keep on holding on, faithful friends, and know that even when our grip is loosening and we feel like the chaos around is winning, it’s not. Because even when we fail to hold on to God, God still holds onto us.
God of grace and love; as the world changes around us, remind us that your love for us never changes. When the change around us and the whirlwind of life begins to wear us down, lift the burdens from our hearts and strengthen us. Remind us that you will never let us go, and give us faith to hold onto you no matter what this world throws our way. Amen.
Written by Pastor Sarah Ruch
Pastor Sarah serves as Sheridan’s Associate Pastor of Local Outreach and Missions. She began her ministry at Sheridan in August of 2022 as Transitional Pastor until October 2022, when she was called as Associate Pastor.
Pastor Sarah lives in Lincoln with her husband Miles, and children; Hannah, Caleb and Aaron.