Always There

Read: Psalm 145:18-19; Romans 8:38-39 “It’s gone!” Abigail exclaimed one morning as she and her older sister walked to the school where they attended day camp. “They just put it up, and now it’s gone!” A huge telescope had recently been installed on a mountain near their town. The girls usually saw it clearly as they walked down their street. Sophia laughed. “In this fog, lots of things are gone. They’re really just hidden by the fog. I’m sure we’ll be able to see the telescope by the time we walk home this afternoon.” Sophia was right. As they walked home, the telescope was visible again, but by then Abigail had something else on her mind. “I don’t want to go to camp tomorrow,” she said. “There’s a girl in my craft class who doesn’t like me, and I’m scared of her. She’s mean!” “Maybe I can stay with you most of the time tomorrow,” Sophia suggested. “But we’re taking different craft classes—and you’re in a different age group,” Abigail replied. “You can’t stay with me all day.” Sophia thought for a minute. “No, I can’t—but you know someone who can!” “I do?” asked Abigail. “Who?” “Think about the Bible verse we read in our family devotions last week—Jesus is always with us,” Sophia replied. Abigail rolled her eyes at her sister. “I know that, but I can’t see Jesus!” Sophia was quiet for a minute. Then she pointed toward the big telescope on the mountain. “We couldn’t see that telescope this morning, but it was there. And even though we can’t see Jesus, He’s there too. He loves us so much that He died for our sins, and He promises to always be with us.” Abigail sighed. “Okay. You can stay with me until we have to split up for craft classes,” she said. Then she smiled. “And then I’ll remember that Jesus is with me the rest of the time—even though I can’t see Him.” Sophia smiled at her sister. “Let’s talk to Mom when we get home. She might have more ideas about what to do about this girl who’s been bothering you.” –Karen R. Locklear How about you? Do you ever wish you could see Jesus? Perhaps when you have a nightmare or get lost in a store? Even when you face scary things, you can breathe a little easier just by thinking of one thing—the fact that even though you can’t see Him, Jesus is right there with you. He promises to always be with those who trust in Him, and He keeps His promises! Today’s key verse: I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus is always with you