God.

It seems like your people are always in trouble.

Sometimes it’s because we get in trouble.

Sometimes it’s because troubled times get us.

We are always looking for a leader to get us out of trouble, so we can go back to normal because we want to be safe. And have peace. Someone like Deborah.

But if we’re honest with ourselves and you, we confess, sometimes we are in trouble because we don’t confess.

The reason Deborah was an amazing judge, the reason she called out Barak’s leadership and Sisera’s demise, and Israel’s deliverance was that you spoke to her. And you spoke to her because Israel cried out to you. And Israel cried out to you because they had rebelled against you and you let them suffer the consequences of their choices.

God, give us the discernment to stay out of the trouble we get in.

Give us the courage to choose to stay awake.

Give us the willingness to put on faith and hope and love, as if we are putting on clothing, as if we are staying awake, as if we are getting ready to see you soon.

And then when there is trouble, we can meet it with gracious dependance on you rather than fear of you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

I mean you.

Amen.

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Reflecting on Judges 4:1-10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

The first Sunday in Advent is two weeks from today. Join us in this journey:  Giving a Year Meaning: A Healing Journal for Advent 2020.