It's too early to tell...

I sat listening to the soft hum of the fan at the feet of our bed last night. All else was quiet. The cat was by my feet curled up with his nose tucked under his front paw; due to the fact the fan was pushing cool air at him. The dog was stretched out right along my left side fast asleep as well. My lovely wife was fast asleep and had been for a few hours prior to my coming into the bedroom.

I couldn't help but lay there, staring up at the ceiling of our bedroom thinking. Thinking of what our lives had in store for us in the coming years.

Is the new job venture of mine going to pan out?

How about the brand new business I helped form and am a partner of?

Will Lisa get her dream teaching job at the local school system of her choice?

How about children, is God's plan for us to have 1...2.....3 (aaaah!) little blonde haired rug rats running around?

Will my parents still be living in our part of state or down in the southern part by my brother and sister-in-law (plus their three grandkids of the present)?

Depending on the last question; will my father and I still get to share the woods in the fall hunting, or the rest of the year preparing for it?


I had all these things and many more swirling through my head. All at once I noticed my heart was picking up it's pace a touch for all the unknowns I was forcing myself to think about.

I'll admit all the unknowns can definitely cause one to worry, stress or freak out at times. However, this rush of nervousness didn't last long because as I glanced over at my sleeping wife I was reminded of a promise. A promise my parents have told me. A promise my grandparents have told me. A promise that my pastor has told me countless times.

A promise which my Savior Jesus Christ told me.

Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
 
Deuteronomy 31:8, The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

 Joshua 1:5, No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

1Kings 8:57, May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

1Chronicles 28:20, David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

Psalms 37:28, For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

Psalms 94:14 (For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.)

Isaiah 41:17  "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16  I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Hebrews 13:5  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”


While it may be too early to tell how all those questions I asked last night may be answered; I do know the answer to the most important question; "God will you be by my side as I proceed with my life?"

He obviously promised to never leave me.

May I never forget that, and may all of you who read this never forget the promise is for all of those who strive to live for Him.