God is with us
A devotional on being of good courage, by Dilys Brooks
“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” —Hebrews 3:13
Today is the first day of December, a harbinger that the end of this calendar year is near. During this season, we often recall the past and begin making plans for the new year. It is also a time when Christians remember the first advent, the birth of Jesus, and anticipate His second coming. Waiting, working, learning, and hoping in the face of ambiguity have been par for the course for 2022.
As I engaged with our text for this week, Hebrews 3:13, I couldn’t help but reflect on what we have learned as a nation, society, organization, and personally via the pandemic. We had many days of insecurity, anxiety, and grief as we practiced physical distancing, sheltered in place, or provided healthcare for countless families in the Inland Empire. Those early days were harrowing.
Lockdown brought us face to face with our mortality and vulnerability. We learned to recognize the power of connection, human touch, and the practice of gratitude. Post-pandemic, we acknowledge that being with others is central to happiness, we need less stuff, and we are strongest when we act together. In our collective wrestling with our mortality, grief, and anxiety, we have learned daily to be more present with ourselves and others.
With thirty days left in 2022, what then should be our focus? We are counseled in this text to encourage each other daily as the antidote to slipping into patterns that would lead us into sin, i.e., doubting God’s loyal love. It seems the author understands how easy it is to divert from faith when facing grief and uncertainty. Throughout Hebrews, the author reminds us that the people God rescued from Egypt via Moses vacillated between belief and unbelief for days, months, and years. Yet, in the end, they realized God was trustworthy, dependable, and loyal.
We exist as an organization to “continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus.” How do we remain present to God and each other today? Encourage each other when we gather for morning or evening huddles, end-of-quarter meetings, worship, or prayer. Share your stories and listen to stories of gratitude, grief, and hope. Yes, we have been through some challenging times, and the future is unknown, but today we are assured that Jesus is with us.
—Dilys Brooks, MDiv, BCC, is campus chaplain for Loma Linda University.
