Daily Devotions
Sunday, June 1, 2025
“The world against me rages, its fury I disdain; Though bitter war it wages, its work is all in vain. My heart from care is free, no trouble troubles me. Misfortune now is play, and night is bright as day.
“Now I will cling forever to Christ, my Savior true; My Lord will leave me never, what’er He passes through. He rends death’s iron chain; He breaks through sin and pain; He shatters hell’s grim thrall; I follow Him through all.”
There are quite a few unpleasant, even frightening, words and phrases in this hymn, descriptions familiar to us from news reports or our own experience. We sing about the raging fury of the world, bitter war, misfortune, trouble, sin, pain, and “hell’s grim thrall,” that is, hell’s enslaving power. All of this in a hymn of praise? There is not a lot of Easter joy in those words, yet according to the hymn, something has changed. Those who trust in Jesus respond in a new and surprising way to those terrifying words and circumstances.
What has happened? Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! That world-changing event turns everything around and upside down. The terrifying circumstances described in the hymn remain as a part of our lives. We still know and experience misfortune, trouble, and the fury of the world as it rages against those who follow Jesus, but now we see and experience those things through the hope that is ours because of Jesus’ resurrection. We regard the fury of the world with disdain because its rage can never separate us from Jesus’ love. In the midst of trouble and misfortune our hearts and minds are filled by peace the world cannot give, peace that depends always and only on Jesus Christ. The enslaving powers of sin, death, and hell have been shattered by the risen Savior. He broke through the pain and death and the crushing burden of our sin that He bore in His body on the cross. As Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). So, what happens now? “I follow Him through all!”
Suffering persecution and imprisonment because he followed Jesus, the apostle Paul wrote, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). The words “I am content” can also be translated as “I am delighted” or “I am pleased.” Paul would have understood the faith expressed in the words of this hymn: “My heart from care is free, no trouble troubles me.” Jesus promises that He will never leave us. Through all of the bitterness and trouble we must endure, even death itself, we cling by faith to Jesus. We are content. We are pleased. We are delighted to follow Him through it all.
WE PRAY: Jesus, in days of trouble and every day, I will cling to You by faith. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness,” which is number 467 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
- What is your usual reaction when you’re scared?
- How could Paul be content in difficult circumstances?
- How can we know that Jesus is with us when we are frightened?