The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD IS NEAR" for Saturday, 8 October 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 42:1-5

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD IS NEAR" for Saturday, 8 October 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 42:1 (0) For the leader. A maskil of the descendants of Korach:
2 (1) Just as a deer longs for running streams,
God, I long for you.
3 (2) I am thirsty for God, for the living God!
When can I come and appear before God?
4 (3) My tears are my food, day and night,
while all day people ask me, “Where is your God?”
5 (4) I recall, as my feelings well up within me,
how I’d go with the crowd to the house of God,
with sounds of joy and praise from the throngs
observing the festival.
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Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.[Psalm 42:5 (NIV)]
One of the first things I learned as a Sunday school teacher is that one child will always cry for their parents. Sunday after Sunday at least one child dissolves into tears after the people who make them feel secure have left the room.
I gently explain to each child that their parents are nearby, that their parents brought them to the class to help them learn. It does not mean that they have been abandoned or will be separated for very long.
Then, when a particular challenge disrupted my world and left me feeling helpless, I understood how the children feel. As I look back I wonder: Why did I fear? Why was life so difficult? Why did I feel lonely? My Lord was nearby, watching over me, but also allowing me to learn and build character.
Now when adversity threatens to make me feel distant from God, I reflect on those distraught children during Sunday school. With renewed confidence I repeat: “God is nearby.”
The Author: Esther Ruiz Saldana (Coahuila, Mexico)
Thought for the Day: I will seek God’s presence in all that I do.
Prayer: Holy and loving God, strengthen us through your powerful presence in our times of need. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE WHO FEELS ABANDONED
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