I Do Not Forsake Them

“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

A year and a half ago, in the midst of incredible turmoil, my best friend, who had been serving with us in State College for over a year, moved back to her home in Lancaster. We were facing so many difficult things at the time, and I couldn’t imagine going on without her.

I remember the day like it was today. Several of us girls were spending time together at the park before Liz had to leave. Many tears were shed as we said our goodbyes. One of the other girls drove me home from the park that night, and prayed together in her car. “God, I don’t know how I’m going to make it without her here, but I trust You.”

I couldn’t imagine how I would go on. I struggled a lot in the first few months, but pretty soon other troubles took the attention of our family, and I adjusted to texting and calling Liz rather than being together.

When Liz left, little did I know that by moving her back to Lancaster, God was in fact doing something that I would later be incredibly grateful for.

Six months after Liz moved back home, our family also moved. It was a difficult move, with mixed emotions, but one thing I knew for sure, was that God knew what He was doing when He sent Liz back to Lancaster. She had time to settle back into being home before we moved into the area, and the fact that she was there made the adjustment more bearable.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  John 14:1-3

When Jesus left His disciples, they were upset and confused. But if He didn’t leave them, then there wouldn’t have been preparations made for them in the future.

Sometimes, things seemingly get worse before they can get better, but through it all, God keeps His promises. Even in the times when there’s still question marks in our minds, and it seems like God forgot about us, we can and must rely on Him.

“These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”