Daily Devotion – January 13, 2022 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison
Psalm 36:5-10
36:5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
36:6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.
36:7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
36:8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
36:10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!
Steadfastness. Not a word we use much. Even faithfulness is not a commonly used word anymore.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t notice and appreciate this quality of sticking to a job no matter what, or seeing something through to the end, despite challenges.
Think of soldiers serving in all kinds of weather and difficult conditions.
Think of health care workers, serving in yet another COVID surge, with no end in sight.
Think of teachers and students, continuing to work hard despite difficult conditions.
Think of the parent whose child is going through a wakefulness phase and who must still be patient with the child and also do grownup work despite being sleep-deprived.
Think of the grocery store worker who has to work another extra shift because two other people are out sick again.
Think of the highway workers clearing snow off the roads two or three blizzards in a row.
These are the steadfast people in our lives, without whose work we would have lives much less safe, much less happy, much less abundant. Luther said workers like these doing their jobs every day were noble, doing holy work, and partners with God. The psalmist here says that God is just as steadfast as humans – even more so.
When you think of God, do you ever think about God’s steadfastness? What does this faithfulness mean to you?
Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Help us to appreciate your steadfast love to us. Help us to be as steadfast in return.  Amen.
