My Bible is literally falling apart. I have repaired the edges with washi tape and stuffed the pages back in place in the back. But this Bible is a comfort to me. I can look through the chapters and see a date beside a verse that is underlined and the notes that remind me what God was walking us through at the time or a lesson that we were learning. I can see the pain But, I need a new cover or to replace my Bible.
Over the past three decades, my history with God is tucked in between those pages and is an assurance that He never leaves us or forsakes us.
In Deuteronomy 31, in Moses’ last days of leading the Israelites, he speaks to them and tells them that Joshua will be leading them into the Promised Land. He reminds the people of what God has done in the past and how God protected them. And then in verse 6, still speaking to the Israelites:
“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.”
In verse seven, Moses is talking directly to Joshua to encourage him:
Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the Lord swore to give to their fathers. You will enable them to take possession of it. 8 The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Even in this crazy time of 2021, Covid and unrest, God’s promise continues to be true. He goes before us; He is with us; He will not leave us or forsake us. Because of this promise, we should not be afraid or discouraged.
Somedays, as the saying goes, “that is easier said than done” for me. Life comes at us fast and furious with many responsibilities and circumstances that we didn’t choose or quite frankly don’t want! The Lord wants to be our refuge. God desires to walk with us through the hard times. Isaiah 40:31 might be a familiar verse:
but those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.
But, let’s back up to verses 28:30:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Yahweh is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the whole earth.
He never grows faint or weary;
there is no limit to His understanding.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and strengthens the powerless.
30 Youths may faint and grow weary,
and young men stumble and fall,
God is the Creator of the whole earth; He never gets tired! (even of listening to me & you!) He knows us and what we need. There is no limit to His understanding. We just need to hope in the Lord, and He will renew us.
Our refreshment comes from spending time in the Word and sitting at the feet of the Father. I can repair the outside of my Bible and tuck those pages back in – but if I am not absorbing what is inside the cover, I will be as ragged as the cover.
DaLee J Kicker
WBC Member
