God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble.
Psalm 46:1
My friends and I are in a study together every other Tuesday. We are reading the book Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado. Just a few weeks ago, as our study suggested, we decided to put a reminder in our phones at 5:30pm every day that says “The Lord is near,” based on Philippians 4:5.
Even though scripture tells us over and over that God is with us and He will never leave us or forsake us it’s good to remind ourselves of this truth because it seems so easy to forget.
That Tuesday, after putting the reminder on my phone, my son asked if he could ride his bike to the basketball court at the other side of the neighborhood. It was about 5:15pm when he set out to meet his buddies for some hoops on a beautiful afternoon. It wasn’t long after he left that I heard sirens. We live in a pretty quiet neighborhood so it’s not too common of an occurrence, thankfully. However, I had just let my twelve year old ride his bike by himself during the busiest time of the day for traffic in our neighborhood. My heart dropped and as I picked up my phone, the reminder came that “the Lord is near.” I stopped panicking and thanked God that He was with me and my son.
Just a few days later, my youngest son’s bus was very late dropping him off after school. Because of recent mechanical problems with the bus at first I thought it must be broken down. I walked to the bus stop and met our neighbors and we all began to wonder what was going on. We checked the bus tracker app and called the school, but it didn’t make the bus come any quicker nor calm these mama’s anxious nerves. It was after 5:00pm when the bus finally turned into our neighborhood and my son got off safely. It wasn’t but a short time later that the reminder on my phone popped up. “The Lord is near.”
This time, it made me think of the situation that had just occurred. That afternoon I could have reminded myself that the Lord was near, that He promised never to leave or forsake us, but instead of calling on my loving heavenly Father, I turned in vain to my friend and my phone for comfort and answers. And then gently and lovingly He reminded me He was there all the time, with me and with my son.
Oh Lord, help me remember that you are always near, my ever-present help in times of trouble. In my worries, fears, trials, temptations, joys and sorrows, you are near.
Peace is a person, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ and He is near all the time. Remind yourself of that truth today.
His servant and yours,
Paula