“Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deut.31:8)
Father, thank you for the promise of your perpetual presence and not stop care. When I’m afraid to be alone, you won’t let me be. When I want to be alone, you won’t let me be. When it feels like I am all alone, I’m really not. When I need you to come through for me, you do and you always will—maybe not as I’d prefer and maybe not on my schedule, but always on the timetable of grace. You have never failed your children.
- When I’m discouraged, you don’t ignore, despise or revile me. You enter, engage, and encourage me at the GPS of my struggle and hard thing.
- When I am feeling vulnerable, you don’t say “Buck up, be strong.” You say, “I understand and I am here.”
- When getting old is getting old, you don’t tell me about 100-year-old children of yours who never whine. You are kind with me. You don’t say stuff like, “You’re still useful.” You say, “You’re more beloved than you realize.”
- When deep regrets resurface and haunt me, you don’t remind me of lessons you tried to teach me; you remind me of the Gospel.
- When my memory isn’t as sharp, my energy isn’t as high, my sleep isn’t as long, my balance isn’t as sure, you don’t say—“That’s okay, you’ve had a good run. Step aside and let others pass.”
Rather you say, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is grey, then white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” (Isa.46:4). Thank you. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.
