The Curious Pilgrim Daily Office

Sunday, July 26

Readings: Psalm 24; 2 Samuel 1:17–27; Romans 12:9–21; Matthew 25:31–46

Today’s readings hit home.

The King of Glory, whose powerful voice created the heavens and the earth, is also the God who brings peace in the midst of life’s chaos. There are times when God seems distant, yet God is still there.

There have been seasons in my life when I felt like I was in a small boat without a rudder, tossed about by the waves. Yet even during those chaotic moments, God came to me in unexpected ways. Sometimes it was a phone call. Sometimes an email. Sometimes a song on the radio, a passage of Scripture, or even a sign along the highway. Looking back, I can see that God never abandoned me, even when I wondered where God was.

We all experience grief, loss, and disappointment. I certainly have. David mourned the deaths of Saul and his beloved friend Jonathan. His lament reminds us that faithful people grieve deeply. As Ecclesiastes says, “For everything there is a season… a time to weep and a time to mourn.”

Paul then brings our attention back to everyday living. His words are wonderfully practical: Let love be genuine. Hold fast to what is good. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in suffering. Persevere in prayer.

I wish I could say I always live that way. I don’t. When life becomes chaotic or tragedy strikes, patience is often the first thing I lose. Yet Paul gently calls me back to the path of Christ.

Jesus reminds us that our lives are ultimately measured by how we treat one another. I also believe God calls me to be responsible for my relationships—with God, with other people, with myself, and with the beautiful world God created. I don’t always get those relationships right. Sometimes I forget.

But the journey continues.

So today I simply take the next step, not knowing exactly what lies ahead. That has always been part of being a pilgrim. Each step, each joy, each disappointment, and each unexpected grace has revealed a little more about who I am—and even more about who God is.

Yes, the earth is the Lord’s.

And yes, the God who owns the whole earth walks beside me as I take the next step.

That is the hope that gives me the courage to keep walking.

Prayer

King of Glory,
When life feels uncertain and the road ahead is unclear, remind me that I never walk alone. Teach me to love sincerely, to persevere in hope, to be patient in suffering, and to recognize Christ in every person I meet. Give me the courage to take the next faithful step, trusting that You are already there.
Amen.