“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

My 14-year-old son badly broke his leg last weekend while at the skatepark. This resulted in excruciating pain, an ambulance ride, a 24-hour hospital stay, medicine, a full length leg cast, swelling, pillows aplenty to elevate his leg, crutches and a wheelchair, 2 weeks of missed school, bedrest, as well as multiple challenges for him and myself in those daily tasks of life.

He needed someone to be near him 24 hours a day, especially during the night in case he needed to use the bathroom, change his position, take more pain pills, drink water, etc. So I set up a temporary bed for myself at the foot of his bed. Now I was quite comfortable sleeping there, but could not see his face when I was laying down, and he couldn’t see me either. I would have to stand up for eye contact, or just listen for him.

Naturally, he woke up in pain during the first couple of nights, so he would call out for me, hoping that I was there since he couldn’t see me due to the darkness and my location. I had told him that I would be there – just out of sight – so he trusted my word and completely expected me to answer him when he called out, and of course I did, every time.

It’s funny how the Lord uses circumstances in our lives to teach and remind us of who and how He is. Laying there this morning on my makeshift bed in the dark, these thoughts filled my mind. As I reflected on how Dane trusted my word, how he believed that I would be there – both because I had said I would, and because he knew I was his main caretaker – it reminded me of how during those dark moments in my life, the Lord was there for me. Sure, I couldn’t physically see Him, but his M.O. was to always be present and a help in a time of need and even when in a time of plenty. His being Spirit does not allow for us to visually see Him, but as believers, we know beyond a shadow of any doubt that He is truly there, as He has promised us this in his Word, the Scriptures. Additionally, knowing that He is there provides a sense of calmness and of being protectively watched over as a parent does its child.

If you’re in a dark place today, remember that you are NEVER alone. Whether it is an emotionally difficult time, or a season of night, our Lord God has promised us that!

He said, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

Besides, He has given us another that ensures we are not alone: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17

 The truth is, this darkness is temporary: “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Matthew 4:16

If you are in need of prayer, please email me. Together we can bring your needs, fears, and desires to the Lord!

Food for thought: Autophobia is the fear of being alone: it is a phobia of isolation, being self-centered, and being ignored.

Fun facts: The maximum depth a cave can reach underground is about 9,800 feet (3,000 meters). Beyond this point, the pressure from the rocks would become too great, and the cave would collapse. The deepest cave humans have discovered is the Voronya Cave in Georgia.
You do NOT want to go caving alone, or in the dark.

Photo by: Kari Wiseman – Rooted Cave