The Rev. Melanie Kim Hamill ’12, Campus Minister at Ringling College of Art and Design, New College of Florida, and University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee

Scripture

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 
2  Lord, hear my voice! 
     Let your ears be attentive 
          to the voice of my supplications!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 
          Lord, who could stand? 
4 But there is forgiveness with you, 
          so that you may be revered.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 
          and in his word I hope; 
6 my soul waits for the Lord 
          more than those who watch for the morning, 
          more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! 
          For with the LORD there is steadfast love, 
          and with him is great power to redeem. 
8 It is he who will redeem Israel 
          from all its iniquities.

Devotional

It’s late. It’s dark in my house with only the faint glow of my digital clock, which reads 2:40 a.m. It might as well say 7:00 a.m. because sleep eludes me. I can’t get out of my head. My stomach is in knots. I’m so worried. I’m fraught. There is no way out. I feel so alone. I will be found out.

Have you ever found yourself in over your head? Out of your depth? Sometimes, despite our best intentions we can find ourselves overcome with self-doubt and driven by self-preservation at any cost. This plight is especially the case when we have messed up and left the trustworthy, narrow path to find our own way. In turn, we are led to a place of deep anxiety, fear, and isolation. Taking up residence in this place of darkness is our undoing. The Psalmist knows this place—intimately. However, the Psalmist also knows that God is the only sure thing. God is relentless in God’s pursuit of us. With pure love, grace, mercy, power, and strength, God rescues us, redeems us, and sustains us through God’s own son. We have a way out and a way through in Christ. Christ is our assurance that we are in fact never alone and always welcome, even if we have gone rogue. As we wait, we hope. We hope because we are lavishly loved.

Prayer

We wait upon you, Christ our Lord
for you come in love,
you come in peace,
and you come for us.
Grant us courage oh long expected One,
for you are the fulfillment of our hoping.
In the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer, Amen.

The Rev. Melanie Kim Hamill ’12, Campus Minister at Ringling College of Art and Design, New College of Florida, and University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee

Scripture

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 
2  Lord, hear my voice! 
     Let your ears be attentive 
          to the voice of my supplications!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 
          Lord, who could stand? 
4 But there is forgiveness with you, 
          so that you may be revered.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 
          and in his word I hope; 
6 my soul waits for the Lord 
          more than those who watch for the morning, 
          more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! 
          For with the LORD there is steadfast love, 
          and with him is great power to redeem. 
8 It is he who will redeem Israel 
          from all its iniquities.

Devotional

It’s late. It’s dark in my house with only the faint glow of my digital clock, which reads 2:40 a.m. It might as well say 7:00 a.m. because sleep eludes me. I can’t get out of my head. My stomach is in knots. I’m so worried. I’m fraught. There is no way out. I feel so alone. I will be found out.

Have you ever found yourself in over your head? Out of your depth? Sometimes, despite our best intentions we can find ourselves overcome with self-doubt and driven by self-preservation at any cost. This plight is especially the case when we have messed up and left the trustworthy, narrow path to find our own way. In turn, we are led to a place of deep anxiety, fear, and isolation. Taking up residence in this place of darkness is our undoing. The Psalmist knows this place—intimately. However, the Psalmist also knows that God is the only sure thing. God is relentless in God’s pursuit of us. With pure love, grace, mercy, power, and strength, God rescues us, redeems us, and sustains us through God’s own son. We have a way out and a way through in Christ. Christ is our assurance that we are in fact never alone and always welcome, even if we have gone rogue. As we wait, we hope. We hope because we are lavishly loved.

Prayer

We wait upon you, Christ our Lord
for you come in love,
you come in peace,
and you come for us.
Grant us courage oh long expected One,
for you are the fulfillment of our hoping.
In the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer, Amen.