Strength in the Shadow of God's Wings

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Exodus 5:10-23; Acts 7:30-3

Lent is a journey of trust, courage, and renewal. It calls us to recognize the weight of oppression, find holy rest in the presence of God, and step forward empowered to speak truth in the midst of injustice.
Psalm 91 reminds us that those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will find refuge under God's wings. This assurance does not mean a life free of struggle but a promise that God’s presence sustains us in the midst of suffering. When the weight of oppression bears down—whether personal, communal, or systemic—we are invited to rest in God's shadow, drawing strength for the path ahead.
The Israelites in Exodus 5 groaned under Pharaoh’s increased cruelty. They cried out in despair, doubting their deliverance. Moses himself, though chosen to lead, questioned God’s plan in the face of such overwhelming injustice. Like them, we often find ourselves discouraged when confronting entrenched systems of power. Yet, Acts 7 recounts God's words to Moses at the burning bush: "I have seen the suffering of my people; I have heard their groaning... I am sending you." God does not ignore suffering—God calls people to be instruments of justice and liberation.
Walter Brueggemann reminds us that oppressive systems resist change: "Empire prefers the narrative that has worked so well to its advantage." Pharaoh’s cruelty escalated because liberation threatened his power. Likewise, today’s systems of injustice persist because they serve those in control. Yet, as Brueggemann notes, the prophets disrupt these narratives with truth, unsettling the status quo.
Walter Rauschenbusch, a leader in the Social Gospel movement, declared that "the Kingdom of God is not a matter of getting individuals to heaven, but of transforming life on earth into the harmony of heaven." Rest in God is not an escape from the world's pain but a source of renewal for re-entering the struggle with courage. God’s justice is not passive—it demands action.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in resisting the Nazi regime, spoke of costly grace—the grace that demands action. "We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice," he wrote, "but to drive a spoke into the wheel itself." The call to rest in God is not a call to passive withdrawal, but to renewal in preparation for action.
Gary Dorrien highlights how prophetic faith demands social responsibility, urging us to confront the forces dismantling democracy and eroding justice. Faith is not an escape from the world’s problems but a source of strength to engage them with courage. Douglas Ottati echoes this by emphasizing that discipleship means actively resisting the forces that distort truth and degrade human dignity.
Call to Action:
This Lent, let us embrace both rest and resolve. Rest in the truth that God’s presence is our refuge, and resolve to step forward, empowered to speak against oppression and injustice.
·       Where in your life do you need to trust in God's sheltering presence?
·       How are you being called to confront injustice with courage?
·       What steps can you take to embody truth, mercy, and justice in a world desperate for them?
The journey of Lent mirrors Christ’s journey to the cross—a path of sacrifice, truth, and redemption. May we walk it with faith, knowing that God sees, hears, and sends us to be instruments of justice and peace.
Prayer: God of refuge and strength, we rest in your shadow, drawing courage from your presence. Open our eyes to the suffering around us. Strengthen our hands and hearts to speak truth, seek justice, and resist oppression. May our Lenten journey deepen our trust in you and embolden us to act with faith and love. Amen.