A Safe Harbor

Read 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Then David went into the Tabernacle and sat before the Lord and prayed, "O Lord God, why have you showered your blessings on such an insignificant person as I am? And now, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me an eternal dynasty! Such generosity is far beyond any human standard! Oh, Lord God! What can I say? For you know what I am like! You are doing all these things just because you promised to and because you want to! How great you are, Lord God! We have never heard of any other god like you. And there is no other god. 2 Samuel 7:18-22 (TLB)

Luz del Alba Acevedo Gaud lives in Puerto Rico. The university where he works is threatened by a profound financial crisis as a result of a government shutdown. Bad news is the order of the day: employees being laid off, services and programs being cut, benefits and pensions being reduced. The news is a deep blow to the hopes of all who work there. Uncertainty and hopelessness have taken over the individual and collective mindset, placing a strain on their day-to-day work. It seems as if they are floundering, busy but without direction.

One day, reflecting on the crisis and its impact on Luz and his family, he found himself suddenly praying a phrase from 2 Samuel 7:18 with gratitude and enthusiasm, "Lord, you have brought us this far." In his heart Luz firmly believes that God will lead them to a safe harbor, that God has plans for a good and bright future.

The crisis helped Luz understand even more about holding fast to the Lord, who will never abandon us no matter how tempestuous the storm. We can trust God's transforming power to restore us and make all things new. As surely as the Lord has brought us this far, the Lord will continue to sustain us with incredible love and mercy.

Prayer: Lord and Savior, fill our hearts with your love so that we can follow the path you set before us, knowing that you always walk with us, in Jesus' name. Amen.