“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10

My daughter’s wedding last Sunday was bittersweet. I am thankful that God blessed me with a man to be a father to my children, but at the same time, I was reminded of the vows I took with my first husband. I never envisioned when we said, until death do us part, it would be after only 4 ½ years of marriage. When we found out we were having a baby girl, it never crossed my mind that he wouldn’t be the one to walk our daughter down the aisle. However, seeing my husband, Pat, walking Danielle down the aisle; I also couldn’t imagine anyone but him being the one to do that.

My husband said a touching prayer over my daughter and her soon-to-be husband before the ceremony as well as a moving father of the bride speech. He got a little choked up when he talked about him not being her biological father but having the honor to call her his daughter and love her as his own the past 21 years. What a blessing for our family (my first husband’s included) that my children have had a man to love and call them his own. Listening to my husbands speech, I also know what a gift it was for him to be a father to Brandon and Danielle.

After the wedding as I was trying to unwind and go to sleep a song sung by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton called, There was Jesus  was playing in my head. I woke up a few times hearing the lyrics, You never walk alone. I knew God was trying to speak to me, so I looked up the rest of the song. Reading the words helped me to understand what God was trying to say to me.

When the life I built came crashing to the ground
When  the friends I had were nowhere to be found
I  couldn't see it then but I can see it now
There was Jesus

In  the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute‚ every moment
Where  I've been and where I'm going
Even when I didn't know it or couldn't see it
There was Jesus

On the mountain, in the valleys (There was Jesus)
In the shadows of the alleys (There was Jesus)
In the fire, in the flood (There was Jesus)
Always is and always was
No‚ I never walk alone (Never walk alone)
You are always there

26 years ago, my life did come crashing down. I felt as if I was all alone, but there was Jesus. He was my blessing buried in all of my broken pieces. In my waiting, searching, healing and hurting; every moment, I NEVER walked alone. God was and is still with me. He is also with every person reading this just as His Word tells us in  Isaiah 41:10; He will strengthen, help and uphold us with His right hand. No, we don’t ever walk alone. He is by our side.

When we are broken and need healing, He opens His arms wide open for us to run into them. He loves us even when our faith is lacking. In the midst of any pain and suffering, He loves, comforts and provides for us. This kind of grace and mercy is a gift. Do you know of someone who needs to hear this good news? What can you do this week, to let someone know that they are not alone and Jesus loves them? 

Dear Lord, 

I will never stop crying out to you for deliverance. You hear my pleas when life gets hard. Thank You that I never walk alone. You are my strength. You are with me in both suffering and rejoicing. Despite how our world may look, You are the light in darkness and You alone can restore broken souls. Forgive me when my faith waivers. I ask for You to lead me to someone this week who needs to hear about Your love, healing and forgiveness that You have to offer. If they don’t know You, give me courage to share my faith. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen. 

August Memory Verse:

Memorizing Hebrews 10:24 is a reminder for me to be thinking of ways I can encourage others in my small groups.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”—Hebrews 10:24

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