When my children were little, every now and then, they would see Virginia and me getting dressed to go out for the night. It wasn’t so much that we needed a date with one another; we just needed a little break from the kids. Whenever they saw us getting dressed, their questions were always the same, “Where are you going? When are you coming home? Who are you going with? What are we going to do? What are we going to eat?” But the most pressing question in their minds was, “Who is going to stay with us?” That is the question. When life gets tough and we feel isolated and lonely, who is going to stay with me? Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd.” The shepherd never leaves or abandons his sheep. We can always count on God to be there. Remember, He cares about you. He knows your very name. And because He is with you, if you will stay with him, you will discover for your life what King David learned from the Good Shepherd, that He won’t leave you in the valley of the shadows. He will lead you through. He will bless you, and His goodness and mercy will follow you, not some of the days of your life, but all of the days of your life. Remember, you are never alone. Jesus said, “Be sure of this. I will be with you even to the end of time.”
– Dr. Tim Thompson