|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Lead Kindly Light"1 (Lyrics) |
Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (ESV)
I read a cute story on Facebook about a little boy who thought that he was old enough to visit his grandparents by himself. After much discussion, his parents agreed, and with his suitcase in hand, they took him to the train station.
Before getting on the train, his dad slipped something in his pocket and said, "If you feel bad or insecure, this is for you."
The train left, and different people came through the car that he was sitting in. They were noisy and moved about a lot, and it bothered him. The conductor made a remark about his travelling alone, and one person looked at him with sad eyes.
He started to feel more uneasy with every passing moment. He felt cornered and alone. He put his head down, and with tears in his eyes, he remembered that his dad had put something in his pocket. Trembling, he searched for what his father had given him. He found the paper, and it read, "Son, I'm in the last car."
When I finished reading that story, the first thing that came to mind was that this is like our Father God. He lets us do things that we think we can do alone, and He gives us freedom. But as we venture into life on our own, we can start to feel cornered and alone. What do you do when those feelings come over you? What do any of us do? To be honest, panic comes to mind – perhaps, we worry and become anxious.
Isn't it comforting to know that instead of looking in our pocket for something that our dad put there, we can look in the Bible and read and believe God's promises for us? The words might not read, "Son, I'm in the last car." But oh! The promises in the Bible give us encouragement, strength beyond what we can imagine, and the security of knowing that we are not alone — ever! Those promises are always available to us. It's our task to search them out whenever we need help.
Genesis 28:15a – Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. (ESV)
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (ESV)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for always being with us. Thank You that when we, like children, venture into places that we should not go or do things that we shouldn't do, instead of feeling alone and cornered or afraid, we can call out the name of Jesus! It is so comforting to know that You are always with us, closer than in the last car! Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Loved this!
Thank you for sharing the message.
Great post Brenda, thanks and blessings!
Thanks for the encouraging thoughts, Brenda.
Thanks for sharing your faith today, Shirley. Well done.
Thank you, Brenda, for reminding us to turn to the Bible for help.
How revealing about God’s nature and His sovereignty Brenda! Blessings.
Brenda, thank you for writing this wonderful reminder for starting my day.
Thanks, Rose, you are an inspiration to me personally and in your writing.
So glad you shared your faith with us today, Brenda. Thanks for writing this. Helps me.
Brenda, this was such a heartwarming story and illustration. It’s a great lesson for us to apply.
Thanks for a lovely story today, Brenda, with a good reminder of God’s constant presence with us.
Thank you, Brenda, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today…a message that was very timely. Blessings.
Amen Brenda! Thanks for an encouraging word.
Enjoy your day.
Blessings.
Brenda, I appreciate the way you turned that sweet story of the boy on the train into a parable of the Lord being with us wherever we go. Thank you, and God bless you.
Thank you, Brenda. I especially needed this today. I am feeling very overwhelmed.
Blessings,
(QC, CANADA)
Brenda, thank you for this touching, beautiful, and sweet devotional about the little boy and his father; and how it compares with our heavenly Father and his care for and presence with us.
Dear Brenda, what a beautiful and encouraging devotional you have written! Yes, we truly must be ever thankful for the care and love we have always near us when we call on Jesus. Many thanks and blessings for writing.
Good morning, Brenda,
Such good passages when we are alone. The first one I believe is when Jacob was alone in the desert, and such a good story as well.
Thank you and blessings on your day.
Hi Brenda,
What an awesome Devotional today. Thanks for your wonderful work in preparing these Devotional.
Blessings to you.
(Ontario, Canada)
Good morning, Brenda,
Just a note to say Thank you for your words this morning. It truly is comforting to know that we are never alone, especially when days are very difficult. My wife and I really needed to be reminded of that truth today. Thank you.
Blessings
(Canada)
Hi Brenda,
What an inspiring lead-in to a good devotional. What an amazing dad, who understood his son’s need for independence, but also wanted to provide some security, just in case.
How well you explained God’s gift of our freedom to explore and try new things knowing that He is always there to help us if we ask and need some guidance. God can speak to us in so many ways when we are struggling and He is there walking with us at all times, we just need to seek Him.
We do need reminders that we are not alone. Sometimes we struggle and forget to ask God for help. May we all feel surrounded by His love as we venture forward. Thank you for sharing this story of God providing us room to grow, but safety in His love. Blessings.
Thank you for writing. Good story. I’ll remember this one!
Thank you, Brenda! What a comfort to know our Lord is always with us.
How revealing about God’s nature and His sovereignty Brenda! Blessings.
HI Brenda,
What a beautiful and memorable story and devotion. Thank you so much.
Hi Brenda,
What an awesome Devotional today. Thanks for your wonderful work in preparing these Devotional.
Blessings to you.
Hi Brenda
I truly appreciated your devotion for Aug. 4. What great timing. In this morning’s scripture I was taken by the words in Psalm 138:7-8.
And then I happened upon your devotion. Yes, He is with us always — and to the end of the age.
Happy Friday!