God is With Us


A memorable scene high in the mountains of Montana
Several have contacted me to check on Jerry’s status. He’s now one-third of the way through his cancer treatment plan--thirteen radiation treatments down and twenty-six to go. He’s doing well except for the expected weariness which accompanies this kind of therapy and of course the strain of travel because of the distant location of the medical center.


The theme for this week in the devotional guide I use is, “God is with us.” We have found that to be true. God is with us in the same way Jesus was with Peter when he encouraged him to step out onto the liquid deep and come to him. As long as Peter kept his eyes set on Jesus, he was fine. But the moment he opened the door for fear, well…you know what happened.

Bubble, bubble.

This morning I awoke ruminating on a situation in our family, which seems to have no answer. Don’t’ you just love an irresolvable riddle? When I let this kind of thing take hold of my thoughts, I almost instantaneously start gulping seawater and gasping for air.

I turned to my devotional guide and the Psalm for the week is 121.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber…The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life…

This does not mean that it’s going to be smooth sailing. It means I’m going to have the opportunity as John Greenleaf Whittier said to find “The steps of faith fall on the seeming void and find the rock beneath.”

I must trust for all the painful puzzles in my life.

So, I’m not looking at my feet. I’m not looking at how deep the water is or how far I have to go. I’m not wondering if he’ll catch me if I fall, because I know he will. I’m looking up. I’m keeping my gaze firmly on the One who “watches over my life.” And I trust him not only for my life but for that of my precious husband and all the others whom I love most.

I remember Beth Moore saying in one of her studies something like “If God doesn’t give you what you want, he gives you something better.”

And he does. It may take a while, and it may not look just like we thought it would, but He does.

God is with us.