Today’s Reading: Psalm 56

Have you ever felt alone? Have loneliness and fear ever pressed in, trying to convince you that you are all by yourself — that nobody is paying attention to you because nobody cares? My friend, that is exactly what the Father of Lies wants you to believe. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44b).

But Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). As he was ascending into heaven, Jesus said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He also told his disciples that the Father was sending another Advocate to them, one that would never leave them. “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth” (John 14:16-17).

So take time this morning to allow the Holy Spirit to remind you that God is with you, that God is for you, and that God will never leave you. No matter what is ahead, God loves you enough to stay with you.

YOU ARE WITH ME

In time of famine, when everything he built kept getting taken away from him, God told Isaac, “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you” (Genesis 26:24).

When life as he knew it was changing, and Jacob was on the run from the decisions he had made, God spoke up: “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15).

When Moses was overwhelmed with what God was asking him to do, he heard God say, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

YOU ARE FOR ME

Even in his grief, David knew that God was for him:
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side! – Psalm 56:8-9

In misery, Micah cried out, “As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness.
Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side” (Micah 7:7-10a).

YOU’LL NEVER LEAVE ME

No matter what you are facing, know that God is with you, that God is for you, and that God will never leave you alone. No matter what is ahead, know that God loves you enough to stay.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” – Hebrews 13:5b-6a

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14:15-17

Let’s make Psalm 56 our prayer this morning, trusting that God is faithful and that He is present. God is aware of what we are going through and He loves us enough to stay by our side.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4