The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14.

“When you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” John 1:48.

Don’t worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 139: David’s Seed, throne, kingdom endure forever. Psalm 89:35-37: Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful. And, Luke 1:32-33: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the LORD God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.

I loved this this morning in Lift Up Your Eyes by Clyde E. Nichols: “Oftentimes, we try to teach faith, hope, and love through lessons in words. Yet the only lessons many really receive are the ones they see through our actions. All the words in the world about faith are useless unless someone is seen walking hand-in-hand with God. All words about hope are in vain unless one sees a life which proclaims: “Many things about tomorrow I do not understand; But I know who molds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hands.” All the words spoken about love are empty and meaningless until someone demonstrates in action that he gives more importance to the welfare and happiness of others than to his own.” And this from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young: “I am always available to you. Once you have trusted Me as your Savior, I never distance Myself from you. Sometimes you may feel distant from Me. Recognize that as feeling; do not confuse it with reality. As I assured Jacob, when he was journeying away from home into unknown places, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. After My resurrection, I made this promise to My followers: Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Let these assurances of My continual Presence fill you with Joy and Peace. No matter what you may lose in this life, you can never lose your relationship with Me.”

As I was sitting in prayer before writing this blog, my thoughts wouldn’t settle. They gently scrolled from one thing to the next until I allowed worry for family to enter. And just like that, like being on Amazon and scrolling down on a product and having that product jump out at you larger than anything, fear took over. And He told me to give Him everything I cannot understand: the pain I cannot heal, the choices that cannot be undone, the regret, the sorrow, the pain, the fear and worry for them that crushes me. He sees me and He sees them and He sees all of us. And for several moments after that, I wasn’t sure what to do. What do you do after you realize you can’t affect any meaningful change? And He gently helped me see that I can thank Him for all He is doing that I can’t see or understand – but He does, and that is everything. I don’t ever want to forget that He is Creator and because He created, we are and all of creation is. He knows exactly all that is needed for each of us. We are each of us lost in a world fallen and choosing all the things that bring pain and sorrow – but for God. He reminds us of all the good we have experienced with others and with Him. And we need that reminder! That’s why those words of the first devotional resonated with the Scripture verses above: “All the words spoken about love are empty and meaningless until someone demonstrates in action that he gives more importance to the welfare and happiness of others than to his own.” And isn’t that exactly what Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, did and does and will always do – for us?

***I feel utterly insignificant. How can I talk back to You? I place my hand over my mouth. I have spoken once, but no more – twice, but now am at a total loss for words. Job 40:4-5. Adapted.***