Daily Devotional for April 18, 2017
Saying Goodbye
For as long as they could remember, Isla and Parker had lived a short walk from the beach. Now they were at the water’s edge saying goodbye to their favorite spot. Isla pushed her bare feet into the sand while Parker threw rocks out into the water. Tears trickled down Isla’s cheeks as she thought of the moving van parked in front of their house—only it wasn’t their house anymore.
Isla would always remember the last day of school before spring vacation a few weeks ago. She and Parker had run all the way home, excited about heading to the beach. They’d burst through the front door. “Mom, we’re home!” Isla called. The house was silent.
“Mom?” called Parker. They went into the living room and found Mom and Dad sitting there. Mom looked like she’d been crying. “What’s wrong?” asked Isla. That’s when her world fell apart.
“You’ve probably noticed that your mother and I haven’t been able to agree on many things lately,” said Dad. “We’ve decided that it will be better for all of us to live apart.”
It just kept getting worse. Not only was Dad leaving, but Isla and Parker were moving with their mom to Grandma’s. They’d have to find a new school and make all new friends. And there was no beach nearby.
Isla stared at the waves crashing against a huge boulder out in the water. “God, this isn’t fair,” she whispered. As the waves sprayed over the boulder, she remembered a verse she’d learned in church. The Lord is my Rock, she thought. He’s always solid and never changes, and He’ll always be with me and care for me.
Parker finished throwing rocks and came and sat beside Isla. “Don’t worry, Isla. Everything will work out okay,” he said halfheartedly.
“I know,” replied Isla. “I just remembered that Jesus is a solid, steady Rock to stand on. We may feel like those waves out there being tossed all over the place, but Jesus is like that big boulder. Even if everything else is changing, He’s still the same. He cares about what’s happening to us and will always be with us. We have to trust Him.” – Betty Yeider
How about you?
Are you going through a difficult time in your life? A time when you feel hurt and alone and life doesn’t seem fair? Remember that Jesus is a close friend, one who is always there for you. He loves you and cares about what is happening. When everything around you seems to be falling apart, He is solid and unchanging—a Rock you can trust.
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