Daily Advent Devotional

December 18, 2024
An Act of Courage
By Mark McDonald

“Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.” Psalm 14 2:4

As a teenager and young adult, I felt like I was living this existence. I had no church, no spiritual guidance, no true community surrounding me. You’re not gonna believe this, but I was a doleful, brooding teen, a mere shell of my current cheerful, bubbly adult self (yeah, I said it—BUBBLY!!!).  
   It took 45 years of searching, of seeking something that I had an inkling was missing from my life, before I found it right here at New Creation Presbyterian Church. In 2013, I wrote out a testimony of my life and presented it to the church one Sunday morning. I wrote out painful details of my search, how I was bluntly turned away three times from church communities, left frustrated and empty. I kept it personal and real, because that’s all I know how to do.  
   I was not prepared for the reception that my little speech garnered. That simple act of courage and redemption, shared in an honest if somewhat trembling manner, really opened up a world of kinship for me and for us as a church community. I can say that in that moment, I truly felt like “The One”: the one chosen to help bind our fledgling little church community together by exposing my hidden vulnerability. I later realized that God was with me during my presentation, just as He always has been. I simply hadn’t been looking for Him.  

​

Reflection Questions:

•What is your story?
•How did you come to find and embrace our community?

​

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

’The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
’therefore I will hope in Him.’” 
Lamentations 3:22-24
 

​