You are God’s
by Maria Rudolph
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Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine (Isaiah 43:1b).
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and lecturer during the time of the German Nazi regime, was thrown in prison and would later be executed for his involvement in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. While languishing behind bars, Bonhoeffer wrote a poem to express his inner turmoil called ‘Who am I?’. In it, he said that, on the one hand, he appeared at peace and strong, knowing he was in God’s hands and that, ultimately, nothing could harm him. On the other hand, behind bars, he felt unsettled and caged, hungering for freedom, safety and his loved ones.
Does this turmoil sound familiar to you? You rest assured in the hands of God, yet you also can’t help but feel restless because of something big going on in your life. That’s one of the reasons we go to church regularly, every week if we can. Hopefully, your church is a refreshing watering hole where you hear God’s assurance and grace spoken over you again and again.
Bonhoeffer’s poem concludes with the words, ‘Whoever I am, you know, O Lord, I am yours’. Let today’s words through the prophet Isaiah be your daily reminder of God’s love: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine’. You are baptised in the name of Jesus. He says (in John 10:14,15), ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep’.
Take a moment to imagine yourself safely in the arms of God, no matter the circumstances.
Good Shepherd, I shall not fear for you have redeemed me. You have called me by name, and I am yours. Thank you for what you have done for me. Draw me close to you today and reassure me of your presence when life becomes tumultuous and uncertain. I know you will never let me go. Thank you, loving God. Amen.
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