By Gracious Powers, ELW 626 & WOV 736
1By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,
and confidently waiting come what may,
we know that God is with us night and morning,
and never fails to greet us each new day.
2Yet is this heart by its old foe tormented,
still evil days bring burdens hard to bear;
oh, give our frightened souls the sure salvation,
for which, O Lord, you taught us to prepare.
3And when this cup you give is filled to brimming
with bitter suff’ring, hard to understand,
we take it thankfully and without trembling
out of so good and so beloved a hand.
4Yet when again in this same world you give us
the joy we had, the brightness of your sun,
we shall remember all the days we lived through
and our whole life shall then be yours alone.
5By gracious powers so faithfully protected,
so quietly, so wonderfully near,
I’ll live each day in hope, with you beside me,
and go with you through ev’ry coming year.
Devotion
Some of the best advice I have ever heard has been quoted in the passage: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a) We don’t understand this in today’s world where it seems only the strong have the power. God’s power is most realized not in the exhibition of human strength, might, and ingenuity, but in the confession of our own need for God’s grace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. For it is then that we truly see God’s power at work in us. When life brings us suffering, God has not abandoned us. Rather, the gracious power of Christ carries us when life’s burden grows too heavy to bear, and we can live each day in the hope and promise of Christ’s tender love.
Prayer
Gracious God, help me to see your power at work in my life and how you can work your power in the world through my powerlessness. Amen.