Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. —Psalm 80:7
In this season amid a pandemic, which has taken the lives of many and changed the lives of so many others, we find ourselves in a period of waiting. We first heard that it would be only a few weeks, so we waited; a few weeks turned into a few months, and again we waited. This period of waiting has often shifted to doubt, distrust, anger, more questions, and rebellion. We wait for someone to do something! We wait for someone to take action!
Psalm 80 echoes these longings and emotions of a community that was also facing calamity. The Israelites were a people who felt abandoned and rejected by Yahweh. God’s people felt puzzled because this was not the Yahweh they remembered from the past. They remembered a God of action! The One who listened, gave ear, and attended to His people! They prayed and pleaded for the day His favor would be restored.
It is with hope that we remember who God is in our lives. May we not lose hope or turn away from Him. May we have peace as we wait!
O God, help us to still trust, believe, and have faith in you. May we never lose hope or forget you as Shepherd, Father, and Lord. May we praise you as we wait for the day of restoration. Amen.
Rev. Latrice Mallard
Minister of Mental and Spiritual Care
Read other Advent 2020 Devotionals or download the book as a PDF.