Hello Friends,

About a month ago a good friend of mine at my church said she and her husband were going to look for another church. The hope is that their adult children would begin to attend church with them (their children expressed they would not come to the church I attended with them).  I felt so sad.  This lady was not just a friend but also a mentor to me.  After this conversation, I went to prayer meeting at church and tearfully asked God why He keeps sending me people to love only to take them away.  I looked up at the cross at the front of the sanctuary and remembered the verse “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬b ‭NKJV‬‬

 

I allowed myself a moment to reflect on that.  People will always come and go from our lives.  We can choose to embrace them or to hold them at arms length.  But Jesus stays.  Even when it feels as though everyone in our life will inevitably leave (whether moving on or leaving this earth), we can trust that Jesus stays.

Matthew West sings in “The God Who Stays”

You're the God who stays

You're the God who stays

You're the one who runs in my direction

When the whole world walks away

You're the God who stands

With wide open arms

And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart

From the God who stays

 

 

God stays no matter what.  The Bible says this often:

 

Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”(emphasis mine)

 

Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

‭‭(emphasis mine)

 

Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬b

“and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

‭‭(emphasis mine)

 

He is always with us, and will never leave us.

 

Can you relate? Do you also feel like friends are always leaving? Like life is a revolving door of people coming in and leaving (maybe a slow revolving door or maybe I’m being a little dramatic)?  Feel free to message me or email me.  Life is hard, but just remember. No matter what, for the believer, Jesus Stays.

 

 

I am a follower of Christ, I am not perfect, but I love Jesus.

Until Next Time,

 

Liz Allen