His Presence

April 5

Do you recall your first day of kindergarten? If you do, you may remember along with your colorful lunch box and shiny new shoes, a bit of apprehension that accompanied your first day of marching off to school. The little scholar in you was a wee bit intimidated by being away from Mommy for an entire morning!

And you’ve probably felt that same feeling of apprehension an additional time or two through your life. The interview for the job you so hoped to be offered, the steeling of yourself to ask the girl of your dreams for her hand in marriage, the struggle to face the diagnosis that might alter your life are a few of the major pivot points around which life can turn that stir up that old emotion.

The Lord knows there are transition points in life that can be good or bad on their face—but either way, they bring stress. We are creatures who like finding a comfort zone and settling into it. When we are required to step into the ‘unknown zone,’ He has a word to give us the peace we need whether to make a cross-country move or to face a life changing calamity.

That word of comfort is found in Joshua 1:9 where He said to His people when they faced a formidable foe, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your god is with you wherever you go.” There is no place, there is no circumstance when you will be abandoned by the God who loves you. His resources are always available to His child. His presence will always guard and guide you.