By Lisa Rosado Rivera, a sophomore music major from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Scripture: Luke 1:68-79 (NRSV)
This year has been great so far. Before this year started, I was very excited about the things I was going to be involved in for the whole year. I am an second-year music major, Resident Assistant, Parables Worship Team member, and Chamber Choir and Orchestra member. My parents were nervous for me at first, but I was confident in myself that I could do everything and have time for myself to study and to take care of myself. Like they have taught me since I was very young: “Put God first in everything you’re involved in. It’ll be the best thing you could have done.” Throughout this semester, I have met so many dear people, whether they are freshmen or transfers or professors, I am thankful for them and share wonderful memories with them.
Nevertheless, by the end of Fall Break, I was starting to develop some feelings of loneliness and strong homesickness. I am from Puerto Rico, and it has been hard for me and my family to travel to be close to each other because of the long distance. But this time, this homesickness increased to a level that dragged my joy, motivation, drive, studies, passion and desires down to rock bottom. I felt like I had the biggest burn out of my life, but, most importantly, I felt that I shifted my way from God. My heart and soul felt empty and dark. I tried to keep being myself with my friends, but my smile didn’t feel genuine. I felt fake. And that is the worst you can ever be.
As I get closer to the end of this semester, I have been giving more time to God with devotionals and prayer time. I was reminded that God never left my side; He was always waiting for me to run back to Him. Luke 1:68-79 refers to how we should prepare the way of the Lord and be thankful for His mercy and grace. Specifically, verses 74 and 75 remind us that the Lord is present “to rescue us from the hand of the enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days”. This passage allows us to think about how God is a forgiving and promising God. His promise remains forever: He loves us abundantly and He wants us to serve Him and love him back. Even though we have lost our way, God has open arms for us to run back to and makes us feel covered in grace and abundant love.
Scripture: Luke 1:68-79 (NRSV)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”