Be strong, fear not!
The devotions for this week are featured in LCA International Mission’s 2025 ‘Pentecost Devotional and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners from around the world. LCA International Mission invites you to pray during Pentecost for the connections and ministries of our international partners. As we mark 50 days after Easter, may this guide encourage you to reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in your own life and how you can respond to God’s love. An electronic copy of the full devotional is available to download at the LCA International Mission website. Please email lcaim@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7317 to request a printed copy.
by Rospita Siahaan
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Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not (Haggai 2:4b,5).
Read Haggai 2:1–19
The year 2025 began with a tragic wildfire in Los Angeles in the US, killing 24 people, burning more than 5,000 structures, and displacing around 170,000 people. Japan entered the new year with a 7.6-magnitude earthquake, which caused infrastructure damage and the loss of over 280 lives. Since then, there have been national and local disasters and no doubt you have had struggles in your own life. What should we say about all this? Should we fear and lose hope in moving on with our lives? Haggai 2:4b,5 answers: no, we should not. God speaks to us with words of encouragement, consisting of command and promise.
Be strong, work, fear not! We do not know what the future holds. Disasters, injustice and hardships are everywhere. When we try to solve these problems ourselves, we may lose hope, as often the problems are much greater than we are. When we rely on God to carry us through our problems, we will find hope. When we turn to God and listen to his word, we will be strengthened and encouraged. God’s word will take away our fear and build us up. Whatever your current fears are, surrender them to God and listen to his word. Be strong! Whatever your responsibilities and roles are, listen to his word: work courageously and fearlessly.
Why should we be strong and not fear? Because God is with us, and the Spirit of God remains within us. This is what God wants to remind us of as we celebrate the season of Pentecost. This wonderful promise is our strength and hope in facing all kinds of struggles, as our God is much greater than all those struggles. His Spirit strengthens us in our weakness, leads us in the darkness and heals our wounds. We can lean on and rest in him who says, ‘I am with you!’ Whatever troubles may come, be strong and continue the work God has given us because the Spirit of God remains in our midst to care for us now and forever.
How does the promise that the Spirit is with you help you amid the problems you are currently experiencing?
Pray for the work of the Lutheran World Federation as it spreads the good news of the transformative power of the gospel in word and action.
Rev Dr Rospita Siahaan is the Regional Secretary for Asia at the Lutheran World Federation.
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