One of my greatest comforts in the multiplied trials of the last few years and especially in the unexpected events of 2020 has been the truth that God is WITH me! What a wonder is His constant unwavering presence!
This month, because I need these reminders myself, I’ll be posting short little devos (quick reads for summer) on four verses about God’s promises to always be with me. And the graphics my friend Julie has designed are all downloadable (see links at the bottom of each post) so you can print them and hang them up where you will be reminded of this amazing truth. Best Gift Ever from Him to you!
No matter what July brings, He is with me. He is WITH YOU!!!
Drowning was my greatest childhood fear. Because of my lifelong battle with asthma, I easily imagined the panic of being overwhelmed by water, fighting for a breath.
In June of 2008, our granddaughter Molly was born. On her birth day, her parents were told she wouldn’t live. The shock was like being swept off their feet by a tsunami. They and everyone in both extended families felt as if we were drowning.
The desperate desire to do something to save Molly was like frantically swimming to stay afloat amidst jagged debris swirling in murky dark water. Unable to make sense of the medical terms and the reality before us, we clung with desperation to the sure Rock of our salvation. As Isaiah 43:2 tells us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2).
These solid, unalterable words of God assure us that He will be with us even when we feel we are drowning in sorrow, pain, or grief.
This statue of Jesus, Christ of the Abyss, secured to the sea floor of the Mediterranean Sea, has always been a visual comfort to me. It reminds me of these words: “… if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me,” (Psalm 139:9). When we feel we are sinking, even in the midst of an overwhelming ocean of trials, tribulations or losses, He is present, always present and waiting with open arms.
Will you reach out to Him?
God knows we are often afraid, scaredy-cats at heart, so He lovingly tells us—more than 100 times—that He will not leave us. Do His repeated promises help you know He means it?
Hard places in life aren’t always life threatening. Relationships of all kinds are hard, too. Are you remembering that Jesus is with you in the middle of those, too?
Please clink the links below to download and print:
Barbara,
Thank you for your heart-warming words that give me continued hope in my one true God of all Ages who will remain with us who believe in Him. Thank you for the links, also. I remember vividly when Dennis spoke about Molly, your beloved granddaughter. I ached for the entire family. May these days be filled with love and tenderness as you and Dennis embrace your lives with Jesus holding onto you.
Affectionately yours,
Josephine
7/7/20
Josephine,
Thank you for writing. It encourages me to hear my writing and God’s truth are encouraging you!
Grateful for you,
Barbara
I found this verse when the extension of the quarantine meant I would be at home for another month or more. It comforted me to know that the Lord is always with me despite the floods, fire and Pandemic. I loved the statute of Christ in the depths of the ocean as it symbolizes His ability to reach us in the depths of our sorrows and griefs. It refreshes my spirit to know we can be confident that He will never leave or forsake us. Thank you for writing these words of comfort.