Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit, you heard my plea: “Do not close your ear to my cry for help!” You came near when I called on you, and you said, “Do not fear!”

Jesus wept.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength …These were all commended for their faith…

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.

Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

(Xaris = Grace, in Greek) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth.

Cheryl Olsen is the Faith & Fellowship correspondent for Women’s Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

The God Who Knows Tomorrow
LBS 2020 Commencement Address