God’s Care

As we begin our series, "God’s Care and God’s Mercy," the season often feels overwhelming. With holidays, projects, and to-do lists filling our time, we focus on tasks and deadlines, forgetting to create space for what truly matters. Yet in the whirlwind, we hear an invitation: pause, reflect, and listen. God calls us, often in unexpected places, urging us to open our hearts to something greater.

In Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah encounters the overwhelming presence of God and, feeling unworthy, cries, "Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips!" But God doesn't reject him—God cleanses him and calls him to serve. Similarly, in Luke 5:8-10, Peter witnesses the miraculous power of Jesus and, overcome with humility, falls to his knees. Yet, instead of turning Peter away, Jesus calls him to a new mission: "from now on you will fish for people."

These encounters remind us that God’s call often pulls us into places beyond our control. Like Isaiah and Peter, we might feel unprepared or overwhelmed, but God’s call isn’t about being ready—it’s about being open to learn, grow, and serve.

I am reminded of this truth often when I go out and try new things. I have always been able to find my home in new places, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an initial period of uncertainty or unknowing. I remember moving to Hyde Park Chicago in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. My family drove our small minivan up from Charleston Illinois to move me in. None of us knew what we were doing, and I had never lived in a major city. It was tempting to want to stay indoors, reside in the safety of my neat studio apartment. But each day I challenged myself. I challenged myself to get out, go for walks, get lost, and find my way back home. Now more than ever we must remember that when God calls us to come out, what else can we do but listen, get out, get lost, and learn, trusting that we’ll find our way home maybe with empowered relationships and a deeper sense of connection to the divine.

As we reflect on these stories, let’s ask ourselves: How open am I to God’s call? Am I creating space to listen and respond, even when I feel uneasy or out of my depth? These questions invite us to consider how we live out our faith—are we truly allowing God to lead us, even into the unknown?

When we embrace God’s call, we step into something bigger: the chance to use our gifts to serve the common good, uplift others, and deepen our connection to the Divine. As we move through this season, let’s stay open, humble, and full of faith, trusting that God will guide us to where we need to be.

Amen.