John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.
After my manic Monday this week, I woke up on Tuesday with a new attitude. I was prayed up and prepared for Tuesday. It didn’t matter to me if it was a terrific Tuesday or a terrible Tuesday because God reminded me once again that He was there. He never leaves me. I got in my car to leave for work and caught the tail end of a praise song singing the words “God loves you.” I took this as just one more reminder that God was telling me He was right there beside me and He would never leave me. I looked up and thanked Him once again. I can rest assured that I will never be facing any challenges alone. And then, the very next song that came on the radio was Matthew West’s song, A God Who Stays. I’m telling you that it was if God was saying, “I reminded you that I am with you, but just in case you didn’t get it yet, let me knock you over the head one more time. Do you get it now?” Oh, I got it, and the words to this song really drove His point home!
If I were You I would’ve given up on me by now. I would’ve labeled me a lost cause ’cause I feel just like a lost cause. If I were You I would’ve turned around and walked away. I would’ve labeled me beyond repair ’cause I feel like I’m beyond repair. Oh, but somehow You don’t see me like I do. Somehow You’re still here. You’re the God who stays. You’re the God who stays. You’re the one who runs in my direction when the whole world walks away. You’re the God who stands with wide open arms, and You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart from the God who stays.
The words struck home. I had felt overwhelmed the day before, but God gently reminded me that I am never alone. And the words but somehow You don’t see me like I do reminded me of the words I studied just a few nights ago, and the question that was asked, “How does God see you?” Our identities are grounded in how God sees us, not how man sees us. Mary, the mother of Christ, was referred to as highly favored meaning that she had a divine purpose over her life. It was also said that Mary was given favor in the eyes of God meaning that she was given the privilege to birth the Messiah. Mary was favored by God, but in case you need a reminder today too, let me share some great news with you. You too are highly favored by that same mighty God. We each have a divine purpose over our lives. He intricately wove us together in our mother’s womb. He made us wonderfully complex, and His workmanship is marvelous! Psalm 139:13-14 reminds us of these things. Yes, my friends, we too are highly favored in the eyes of our loving Father. Your identity is grounded in the way our heavenly Father sees us, and He sees us as His children, His highly favored children. We are His, and He is ours!
It is quite amazing actually when we attempt to put these things in perspective. How can God love me like He loves me? I don’t deserve His love, kindness, patience, grace, or mercy. I don’t deserve any of those things, yet He still loves me completely and promises to never leave me. I think back to the times in my life when I have felt completely alone…the loss of my mother, a major job change, a failed marriage. Those were some tough times. I remember back to the days when my sweet husband worked overseas. He was gone 32 days at a time. It was tough being home without him, but even when he was gone, I knew that he was there. He would message me all throughout the day, and we spoke on the phone every single night before bedtime. He was there for me, even when he wasn’t physically present, and I knew that no matter what happened on the farm while he was gone, Jeff was still there to help me handle it. Our God is ever present too, y’all. We may not see him physically, but He is right there beside us, watching over us, moving around all the chess pieces in life to place us right where He needs us to be and placing others right where they need to be so that His great plans for our lives are carried out for our good and His glory. He is there. He never leaves. His word is true.
If you are feeling alone, overwhelmed, or maybe feel like you have lost your way, call on our Savior. He is there. He is waiting and watching, and He is ready to guide your path. He NEVER leaves.
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 