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FOCUS VERSE: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." — Isaiah 43:2 (CEB)

PRAYER OF PRESENCE:
Holy and abiding God,
In this sacred moment, we turn our attention to You.
Still the noise around us and within us,
That we might hear Your gentle whisper of grace.
Open our eyes to Your light,
Our hearts to Your love,
And our souls to the peace that only You can give.
Meet us here, O Lord, as we offer ourselves fully to Your presence,
Trusting in Your steadfast care and boundless mercy.
With gratitude and hope, we are here—present with You. Amen.

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah 43:1-7

HYMN FOR REFLECTION:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHLDSR-dJCM

Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

  1. Jesus, lover of my soul,
    let me to thy bosom fly,
    while the nearer waters roll,
    while the tempest still is high.
    Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
    till the storm of life is past;
    safe into the haven guide;
    O receive my soul at last.
  2. Other refuge have I none,
    hangs my helpless soul on thee;
    leave, ah! leave me not alone,
    still support and comfort me.
    All my trust on thee is stayed,
    all my help from thee I bring;
    cover my defenseless head
    with the shadow of thy wing.
  3. Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
    more than all in thee I find;
    raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
    heal the sick, and lead the blind.
    Just and holy is thy name,
    I am all unrighteousness;
    false and full of sin I am;
    thou art full of truth and grace.
  4. Plenteous grace with thee is found,
    grace to cover all my sin;
    let the healing streams abound,
    make and keep me pure within.
    Thou of life the fountain art,
    freely let me take of thee;
    spring thou up within my heart;
    rise to all eternity.

REFLECTION by Rev. Linda L. Furtado

In 2024, I was blessed to travel to England and visit several historical sites rooted in the history of The United Methodist Church. This was more than just a trip; it was designed as a transformative learning experience. The “Wesley Pilgrimage in England” brought me face-to-face with stories and lived experiences that I might have otherwise discounted or taken for granted had I not encountered them within the context of a spiritual journey. On one hand, I returned with a heart full and deeply thankful. On the other, it took nearly the entire pilgrimage to connect with the peace and stillness of God at work within me, helping me see myself as part of the unfolding history amidst what too often felt like a bombardment of cultural and contextual differences.

One could say that water is water no matter where you are, but as I traveled over the oceans, I was transported to shores that brought into view a distress and discomfort resting beneath the surface of my being. Rather than feeling liberated to go, learn, and explore, I felt lonely. It was as if I were passing through waters too high to walk through at a normal pace and yet not so high as to submerge me completely. I experienced moments of joy and curiosity, yet I too often longed for the familiar.

Oh, how I wish the focus scripture had been one I recalled in the early days and hours of my travels. “When you pass through the waters, I’ll be with you” (Isaiah 43:2) speaks to the profound need for God’s presence in moments of distress. Sometimes, we float aimlessly because we can’t seem to navigate one way or the other in the waters of overwhelm. Other times, we fight to catch our breath, struggling to endure, feeling consumed by the world around us, where there seems to be no foothold to rest and no end in sight. In the midst of grief and loss—even the expected pains that come with traveling away from loved ones and familiar places—it is not uncommon to feel as though we are drowning in the quiet isolation. The rawness and vulnerability lead to tears, flowing freely as the pressure built up inside us finds release. This scripture would have been a balm to my soul. Yet, I found that balm as I grew in relationship with those journeying alongside me. Through them, I grew closer to God and ended up living the scripture instead. What had been overwhelming became manageable as I not only stepped out into the waters but walked through them with new friends in Christ.

God calls us, redeems us, journeys with us, and loves us deeply. There is no pain of any kind that can come upon us where God isn’t right there, ready and willing to help us through it. Sometimes, relief comes through direction, support, and partners who help release the pressure of trying to go it alone. Other times, it is God at work in community and across history, reminding us time and again, as often as we need it, to journey through rather than surrender to the storms of life.

When Charles Wesley writes in his hymn, “Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past,” I am reminded that storms don’t only arise when we are on the move, traveling out into the world. They also come upon us in stillness, attempting to have power over us. Yet, in calm care and assurance, we can endure and move through them in such a way that the winds and waters neither overcome us nor cause us fear.

Such calm assurance was the lesson I learned slowly but surely over the course of the pilgrimage. I gained new friends and connections, bridged history with present experiences, and found encouragement as someone who seeks to carry on traditions such as writing and leading in song as Charles Wesley did, raising children with a heart for God as Susanna Wesley did, and creating space for God within myself and the world as John Wesley and many others have done.

Prayerfully, we will all embrace the journeys of life, whether through pilgrimages like this one or other opportunities that stretch, transform, and renew us. However these experiences take shape, near or far, may God’s word rest on our hearts as we seek His divine presence no matter what challenges may arise.

CLOSING PRAYER:

“In great bodily pain, in much distress of fortune, under many contradictions in almost everything. I know that God is power, wisdom and mercy too! From which knowledge I infer that, if I were duly qualified for it, he would soon appoint some expedient [measure] for my relief, did he not foresee that ‘tis better for the present I should be in the state I am.

What say I then, shall I pray for the continuance of these trials? Consider my impotence, that would be presumption. Shall I absolutely desire deliverance? By no means; the above mentioned reasons show that unfit. What then? Renounce all choice and again offer up your whole being to him that is your way, your truth, your life. Savior God, accept and bless…” 

—Susanna Wesley (1669-1742)

WEEKLY PRACTICE: Jan 12 - 17 (Sun - Sat)

Praise: Celebrations of God’s Presence in Prayer

What was begun anew at Christmas with the birth of Christ stays with us in this new year. With God’s presence and guidance we have much to celebrate and be thankful. So, take a moment to actively lift up in your prayers the God we love and adore just as we did when celebrating his birth at Christmas. In fact, consider the celebratory nature of the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the awe and wonder of God at work in creation. God truly provides all we need in body, heart, and mind with a greatness that far exceeds anything we can imagine. 

Glory to God in the highest! May we all see God’s handywork and lift words of praise. Amen.
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