He’ll never leave me…no, really

There. I said it.

Tomorrow we start a new Bible study. My friend Sharon and I are the ring leaders of this circus and its always a little frantic when we ramp up. But, this go 'round…I truly feel some fear. Its the biggest (starting out…it always dies off in the summer) # of women and # of kiddos we've ever had sign up. So many unknowns…so many Qs I have about HOW the heck to do things w/this big group. And then, I remember satan does this. Its his job…hes good at his job. He is dropping in fear…he is creating uncertainties. He is trying to convince me that he can undermine the God of the universe bc afterall, this is God's circus, not mine.

And so today, as I start my day – here is what He gave me. Just for ME. I'm in tears…He's so good to me. And the cool part – the really really cool part – is He's just as cool to all of us. He loves us ALL this much…to send a private, personal lil message to encourage us and spur us on. 

Maybe He sent this for YOU, too…

"He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" – Hebrews 13:5

What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:5-6

"I will never leave you…" — not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again. 

"I will never…forsake you." Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful—just the everyday activities of life—do I hear God's assurance even in these?

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing—that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God's assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.