Proverbs 15:3 – The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (ESV)

During worship on Sundays, Zoë, my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, plays with her friends off to the side — out of everyone's way, but still within my line of sight. She knows I keep an eye on her to play nicely. Experience has shown her that I will beckon her to come back, or maybe pick her up and carry her back when she is hard of hearing to comply.

At church, everyone knows Zoë, and that I keep a keen eye on her for safety at all times, redirecting her inappropriate behaviour, as the need arises, when Caroline or I may pick her up and encourage her to sit with us.

One Sunday recently, I was cradling Sophia, just 5 months old, in my arms, and I looked across to Zoë, little Miss Independent, and I considered how once I had cradled Zoë in a similar manner. Then, I remembered how as a young man, God had watched over my life. This was despite my trying His patience at times, believing myself to be invincible, or just being thoughtless.

He kept me close, safe from any harm, despite my car crashes and escapades. Then, as I have matured, God has allowed me to grow up from being cradled in His arms, to run about at large in the world, still under His gaze, and in His tender care serving Him.

Sometimes, we believe He has left us because He gives us the space to face dangers, or suffer traumas, and think for ourselves, as if we are on our own. Obviously, God is with us through all things. Just at the right time, Jesus reveals His closeness, to embrace or pick us up when we fall down, or maybe through His Word to give us a pep talk when we need a little redirection, a time-out, or a prompting to do the right thing.

Make no mistake: our God is with us even when the ceiling seems to be the only place that hears our prayers.

Prayer: Lord, we rejoice in the favoured status of being Your loved one: cared for and watched over in Jesus. Please increase our understanding of what it means to be indwelt, nurtured, and delivered from evil, as we invite Your holy presence to be once more in us today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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