Shining Perspective

“Mommmmmyyyyy!!!” That is the unmistakable screeching, panicked voice of my five year old son; accompanied by what sounds like a herd of elephants stampeding toward me as he flies around the corner panting, eyes wide he says, “Why did you leave me?” I responded, “Honey, I’m right here, did I leave you?” His disappointed pouty little voice replied, “Yes you did!” Now obviously I hadn’t left him. In his little world he went back into the apartment to grab a toy. As he did, I went outside to load all of our gear for the day into the car. (As usual we were running late.) I am sure with his acute hearing that he heard the screen door shut and that threw him into a panic. To him, I was leaving him.

For the moment, (we are in the process of moving) my car is parked two feet from our front door. However, it is around a blind corner and you cannot see the car from the front door or the front door from the car. The reason he panicked, he couldn’t see me. I thought to myself, don’t you trust me? Have I ever left you before? It became clear to me in that moment; this must be how God feels. Every time I say I am lonely or every time I think no one cares, every time I think I have been forgotten. God must think don’t you trust me child? Have I ever left you before?

I cannot imagine leaving my son. I cannot dream of forgetting him. I cannot fathom not caring about him. God loves us so much more than we can even comprehend. He has never left me. Even before I knew Him, He was involved in my life; I just didn’t know it then. “And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”~Deuteronomy 31:8

In the same way I want my son to feel secure, and want him to know I wouldn’t dream of leaving him, God wants the same for us. God wants us to be secure in Him “…so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”~Joshua 1:5. When He says: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. You can count on Him to be there.

Today I cling to these specific promises with more passion than ever before. “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”~Numbers 23:19. I know even when I can’t see God, even when I can’t feel Him, even when I have doubts, even when I have questions: I know His word is true. God is faithful and will not leave me or forsake me; He is evermore the same for you.