Felecia Russell

April 18, 2022

Lenten-Devotions.png (600×200)

“Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” 

                                                     -Psalm 27:14

Psalm 27 is my grandmother’s favorite bible verse. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in January 2022 and passed away on February 25, 2022. She was the matriarch of the family and the one that kept us all connected. Fortunately, for me, I was able to spend a week with her before she passed. During that week, two things were constant, she retold stories about my childhood, and she continuously recited Psalm 27. Verse 14 stood out to me, it reads, “Wait on the LORD, Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.” I was baffled that even in the face of death, her lowest moment of despair, my grandmother was waiting on the Lord. She was of good courage. Let’s just say, my faith was and is not as strong as my grandmother’s, but now that she is gone, I find myself repeating Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD, Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.” This verse gives me comfort and it gives me courage. Now, I know why she kept repeating it, not because she already had the courage, but she needed to find the courage to keep waiting.  I think this is why David wrote Psalm 27, to remind us that waiting is not easy. David was anointed King at age 16 but didn’t become King until age 30. Waiting and courage is hard work.

I hope this verse will give you the same peace to know that being of good courage is not easy. Waiting on the Lord is not easy. My family was waiting on the Lord to do great work. We were praying that He would not take my grandmother from us. In fact, I was discouraged because I lost the person that was so deeply enveloped in my heart. Yet, my grandmother reminded me that we must be of good courage. Even in the midst of chaos, loss, and loose ends.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be of good courage, in all situations, in every moment, help me to turn to you. Give me the patience of David to know that you are worth waiting for. Give me the courage of [insert your person]. Help me to seek your presence every day, not just in the difficult moments, but always. Amen.

Russell PicFelecia Russell is the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission and a proud CLU alum (2013). She was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Inglewood, California. Felecia has her master’s from Pepperdine University and will graduate from Temple University in 2022 with a doctorate in education. She is a big Lebron and Beyonce fan!

 

 - Felecia Russell 
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission 

Cal Lutheran Alumni ’13 

loose ends