Our God Is with Us When We Are Afraid

“I can’t wait until school lets out so I can go be with my friends.â€

“Summer is going to be great! I can’t wait for my aunt’s wedding.â€

“One day I’ll be on my own; I can’t wait until I’m in college!â€

Do you ever get caught up longing for the future and all that it will bring? Do you find yourself distracted from the good in your life
right now because you are so focused on the future? I know how it feels to look forward to something and wish for time to pass.

Sometimes, we need to remember to slow down a bit and focus on what God is doing in front of us right now. God has a plan and purpose for you right where you are. God has blessings for you today. God has things to accomplish in your life this month, before another season passes and you get to the big event you are looking forward to. God is not going to wait until you are an adult to start using you to build His kingdom.

Maybe it’s time to look for opportunities to serve now rather than ways to make time go by faster. Time will pass soon enough, and you will grow older quickly; don’t forget to live in this moment while you wait for the next one to come. • Emily Acker

• It’s okay to look forward to something—in fact, it can be very good! But how do you know when it’s distracting you from the present?

• What are some ways you see God at work in your life right now? If you don’t see anything, pray for Him to show you what He has been doing.

• What are some unique ways you can serve in God’s kingdom today that you might not be able to do when you get older?

Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 (NKJV)

Read Verses:

Joshua 1:7-9; Psalm 23:1-4; Romans 8:38-39