Today’s Reflection
I don’t know why breaking is the admission price that we pay for access to life, but I take comfort in the fact that I follow a God who is intimately in touch with the process. A God who knows that brokenness doesn’t always leave visible bruises, even as our bodies crumble under devastating, unseen wounds. A God who knows that families formed by choice are important and valid, even though these families acknowledge loss. Just as we follow a God who understands our physical sufferings, so too do we have an example of how God values families born of choice, grief, and loss.
—Hannah E. Shanks, This is My Body (Fresh Air Books, 2018)
Today’s Question
How can recognizing God’s presence in brokenness help you extend grace to yourself and others?
Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
—Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Prayer for the Week
Loving Creator, you have made us — fearfully and wonderfully — in your image. Help us embrace our bodies, just as they are, without hesitation or shame. May we see your glory reflected in ourselves and in others. May we know that we are enough. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
In the Santuary of Women, by Jan Richardson, highlights six women from scripture and history and invites us to discover what their lives tell us about God. Come spend some time in the sanctuary of women. Learn more.
Lectionary Readings
- Acts 9:36-43
- Psalm 23
- Revelation 7:9-17
- John 10:22-30
Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.