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Apr 13, 2025 06:00am

I Will Never Leave Thee, Nor Forsake Thee

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During a recent Sunday morning church service, I volunteered in our church’s nursery. Our church has an incredible team of volunteers who rotate throughout the year, giving young parents the opportunity to attend service without interruption. This particular week, some things really stood out to me.

Every parent dropping off their child offered similar reassurances:

You’ll only be here for a little while.
I’m not leaving you; I’ll be right on the other side of the wall.
I’ll be right back.
You’re going to be okay.

These parents deeply love their child and they all try to leave their kids with consoling affirmations.

What I observed next was striking. Half of the children accepted their parents’ encouragement, completely believing what they said. These kids had perfect peace – they laughed, played, snacked, read, and had a grand time.

But the other half struggled. They cried. They asked repeatedly about momma and daddy. They kept looking at the door, their faces filled with worry and anxiety. Despite the nursery being a safe, fun, warm environment, these kids couldn’t enjoy themselves or gain peace because they were filled with worry.

And boy, did this resonate with me! How often has God placed me somewhere unfamiliar, sent me through a trial, allowed a storm in my life, or made me uncomfortable. And how did I respond?

With worry, doubt, fear, anxiety, stress.

Yet God’s Word is filled with promises that He is with us always and that He will never leave nor forsake His children (Hebrews 13:5). Over and over, the Bible reassures us with phrases like “Fear not” and “Be not afraid”. One of my favorite verses in the entire Bible is Mark 5:36, “Be not afraid, only believe”.

It led me to reflect: Which nursery child have I been most like in my life? Fearful and worried – or joyful and full of peace and faith.

In Exodus, God made literal food (manna) fall from heaven to feed the Israelites in the wilderness. But by the book of Numbers, the same people, with manna crumbs in their beards and on their shirts, start to complain about where God has led them. They aren’t happy. They’re not comfortable. They’re tired of manna. The journey’s too difficult. Did God really lead them here just to die?

In stark contrast, Job lost absolutely everything in his life – his possessions, his farm, his servants, his wealth, all of his children, and even his health. Yet, he was full of faith and he made two very powerful statements.

The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)

For I know that my redeemer liveth…(Job 19:25)

Wow.

Am I complaining with manna on my breath? Am I full of fear and worry and anxiety and doubt?

Or am I full of faith, hope, joy, trust, and expectation? Am I standing on the promises God has written in His word over and over?

Just like those parents leaving their cherished child in the church nursery, God has told us:

You will only be here for a little while.
I’m not leaving you; I’ll be right on the other side of the wall.
I’ll be right back.
You’re going to be okay.

But are we believing Him?

You know what? At the end of service, when those parents opened the nursery door to pick up their children, every single child’s face lit up. They RAN to their mom or dad, beaming with joy. They couldn’t get to them fast enough. They were so happy to see them!

Maybe today, we need to find our footing in faith. Perhaps it’s time to lean into God’s promises. And just maybe, we should take a moment to look up at our Father, let our faces light up, and run into His arms.