Have you ever questioned God, “Why?” or “How long?”
I want to be honest with you. Recently, Joyce and I have felt quite discouraged by what has been happening in the life of the church and in the world around us. More than once, I found myself praying, “Why, Lord?” and “How long?”
At times, God felt distant, as if God were hiding his face. I could not see him at work—north, south, east, or west. So I prayed for signs of hope, for signs that God was still working among us.
Then I listened to Gabriel’s life story. And all I could say was, “Wow. God, You are awesome. You are always working, saving, and redeeming.”
Gabriel, too, asked God, “Why?” For many years, he felt as though God had put a target on his back and then walked away. From his teenage years into his late thirties, he wanted nothing to do with faith. Yet the truth is this: God never let go of him. God was faithfully at work all along.
In God’s time, Gabriel came home, back to faith and back to a spiritual home. He shared these words:
“I started looking for a church. I wanted my daughter to have a fair shot… Then we came here. This place felt like home. Small. Real. Loving. Like the church I grew up in. People knew each other. There was space to belong. Space to help. Space to be needed. And that mattered to me.”
You can read Gabriel’s full life story here: "Uncovered" – Gabriel Grimm’s Faith Story
In many ways, we are like the two disciples walking to Emmaus, our eyes clouded by sadness, grief, and discouragement, even as the risen Christ walks right beside us.
Yet God comes to us in every season and through many means—through prayer, through the scriptures, through shared meals, through Souper Bowl Sunday, through tonight’s Prayer Vigil, and through stories of redemption happening in our midst.
As we gather for worship this Sunday, may God open our eyes and set our hearts burning anew.
Have a blessed weekend. I truly look forward to worshiping together.
In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor
P.S. If you are able, please consider sitting closer to the front during worship. It helps those who worship online and also helps me preach more clearly. Most of all, it strengthens our sense of closeness, connection, and community. We are better together :)
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