Trusting...and a Giveaway

Through the wind and the rain, through laughter and pain, count on Him. And when life isn't fair, and there's nobody there, He will be. In a world of pretenders, He is your true defender. And when it all comes down, He'll be the last one caring & standing. ~unknown

RB wrote this devotional for a Lifespan Development Class.  

Trembling, he approached the microphone to recite his Easter Sunday verse: “It is I; be not afraid.”   But somewhere between his seat and the platform, his nervousness changed the KJV into, “It’s me and I’m scared!”  How often do we carry childish fears with us into adulthood, even though we should be mature enough to replace fear with trust?

Uncle Jim taught our little girl to trust him.  As soon as she began walking, Sunday after Sunday at the close of the service, he hurried to the bottom of the stairs, stopped, turned, and extended his arms. “Jump, Melly!” He never missed performing a safe catch. What a trust-building relationship this little exercise developed into…until…one day Uncle Jim descended the stairs without anticipating Melly’s sudden presence behind him. An observant bystander yelled, “Jim!” Instinctively, Uncle Jim whirled on his heels, catching my precious girl just inches from the concrete floor.

Uncle Jim at Melanie's Dedication

How many times    have the cares, reverses,   and disappointments of life whittled away at the very fabric of our trust garments – from swaddling clothes to sleepers, from pajamas to sweats, and even from little-man suits to business casual?!  Instead of increasing trust levels, the natural instinct is to allow the meter reading to diminish, fading instead of fortifying.   Could we be missing a myriad of golden opportunities to teach our children (heritage of the Lord) “from a child…” (as modeled by T1imothy’s mother and grandmother; 2 Timothy 3:15; KJV)?   Our teaching and training should begin with the component of trust – total reliance in the darkness, confidence to take the first step, courage to obey Mom and Dad’s God and the principles He has already taught them. 

Run with Abandon
A Giveaway for my readers
Leave a message if you'd like to win.
9.26-10.3

     Training is not automatic, nor can it wait until that precise moment when a tiny child is “ready” to learn.  It must be intentional, as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:7, “Train up a child…”  This directive was addressed to parents thousands of years ago; it was (and is) the voice of our Heavenly Father; the accountability for carrying it forth rests with mothers and fathers.   While parents are not ultimately responsible for the eternal results of their children, they must certainly own what they feed them, how they steer them, and when to instill Scripture into their minds and hearts.

Investing our personal trust in God in every part and parcel of our little ones’ lives will reap great dividends.  It will not eliminate the “It’s me and I’m scared” times, nor will it remove the awesome weight of raising them “in the fear and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 KJB), but it will drive us to the Cross, knowing “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid…!” (Psalm 56:4 KJV).  May we always strive to replace childish fear with childlike trust.

I cannot always see His arms while traveling on this way,

But this one thing I know for sure: He’ll support me every day.  (rbk)

Nugget of thought for the day:

Though I may not always be aware of His continual presence, I can be sure He’ll be there on time, just in time, every time! (rbk)

Linked to:

Consider the Lilies 

Thought Provoking Thursday

Thoughtful Thursday

Faith Filled Friday