Daily Devotional for August 12, 2020
Sticking Your Neck Out
“I like our new church, don’t you?” said Claire’s mom. “And don’t forget, your kids’ class will be starting soon.”
Claire walked over to the aquarium where her pet turtle Shelley lived. As she dropped some fresh greens into the aquarium for Shelley to eat, she said, “Mom, I’m nervous about the new class. What if the other kids don’t like me? What if I don’t make any friends?”
Her mom walked over and put a hand on her shoulder, and they watched Shelley the turtle peek out of her shell. She slowly came out and walked over to eat the greens Claire had left for her.
Mom smiled at Claire. “Did you see what Shelley did?”
“What do you mean?” Claire asked. “She’s just eating the food I gave her.”
“Yes, but before Shelley could eat, she first had to come out of her shell. She had
to stick her neck out in order to walk to the food she wanted.” Mom looked at Claire. “Sometimes we have to come out of our shells too.”
“Mom, I don’t have a shell!” said Claire.
“What I mean is, sometimes we have to step out and do things that seem scary to us for our own benefit,” replied Mom. “If we want to make friends, we have to step out and be friendly.”
“Oh, I see what you’re saying,” Claire said. “You mean if I want to make friends, I’m going to have to be brave enough to be a friend to the other kids.”
Mom nodded. “Church is where we go to learn about Jesus and worship Him, but it’s also where we have fellowship with other believers. Spending time with other Christians nourishes us spiritually. It’s one of the ways Jesus helps us grow and know Him better.” Mom pointed to the aquarium, where Shelley was slowly munching her food. “But in order to have fellowship, you need to be willing to come out of your shell.”
Mom gave Claire a gentle hug. “I know it’s hard sometimes, but remember Jesus is with you. Trust Him to help you reach out to others.”
As Mom walked away, Claire stood and watched Shelley nibble on the greens, thinking about what her mom had said. • Katrina Douglas
How about you?
Do you ever get nervous about meeting new people? Do you worry that others won’t want to be your friend? Getting to know people in a new place can be scary, but remember that Jesus is with you. He will help you develop friendships with other Christians that will feed your soul. Don’t be afraid to stick your neck out so you can have fellowship with others.
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