When our son Joel was learning to ride a bike, he had to ride in the driveway and on the lawn because there were no sidewalks near our house. Our gravel driveway was short and bumpy, and riding on the lawn wasn’t much fun either. So Joel eyed the road in front of our house hopefully. My husband looked at the same road, but where Joel saw a straight, smooth, wide stretch for his riding pleasure, my husband saw fast-moving traffic — definitely not a safe place for a five-year-old to develop his riding skills. My husband didn’t enjoy withholding this pleasure from our son, but where Joel saw fun, my husband saw danger.
Sometimes it is hard to understand God’s commandments or why God withholds what looks so good and right to us. But our perspective is limited. We can’t know or see what God knows and sees. We can only trust that out of great love for us, God looks out for our welfare to accomplish what is best for us in the long run.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Thank you, Father, for looking out for our good. Increase our trust in your loving heart. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 48:12 “Listen to me, Ya‘akov;
Isra’el, whom I have called:
I am he who is first;
I am also the last.
13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth,
my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I summoned them,
at once they rose into being.
14 “All of you, assemble and listen:
which of you has foretold what is coming?
Adonai’s friend will do his will against Bavel,
using his arm against the Kasdim.
15 It is I who have spoken,
I have summoned him,
I have brought him,
and he will succeed.
16 “Come close to me, and listen to this:
since the beginning I have not spoken in secret,
since the time things began to be, I have been there;
and now Adonai Elohim has sent me and his Spirit.”
17 Thus says Adonai, your Redeemer,
the Holy One of Isra’el:
“I am Adonai, your God,
who teaches you for your own good,
who guides you on the path you should take.
18 If only you would heed my mitzvot!
Then your peace would flow on like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants would be numerous as the sand,
your offspring countless as its grains.
Their name would never be cut off
or destroyed from my presence.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY; God knows best — better than I do.
PRAYER FOCUS; Children learning a new skill
READ MORE: Link2Life - June 11 BY ESTHER ZEISET (PENNSYLVANIA)
RELATED DEVOTIONALS: GOD KNOWS BEST
Joel, age 5, riding bike (on the lawn!)
Esther with her husband, Nelson (left), and Joel — present day***
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