Even When We Can’t Be There…God Still Is

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. {Ps. 46:1 NIV}

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. {Ps. 46:1 NIV}

I answer the phone and hear the tears in her voice. I close my eyes and wish I had wings to fly the many miles to her side. I read the hurt in the email that makes its way to my inbox. As I respond I want to reach through the screen and put my arm on her slumped-with-discouragement shoulders. I see the status update on Facebook and whisper a prayer with the hope she’ll somehow sense it.

I want to be there for the people I love.

I imagine you do too.

I don’t like the idea of missing even a moment when they might need me. And yet I realize making this happen is impossible. How do I live with that reality? How do I know they will be okay anyway?

The answer came to me through Psalm 46:1, “God is…an ever-present help in trouble.” He is on the other side of the phone line after she hangs up. He is right beside her when she reads my email reply. He is with her in every event on her Facebook timeline.

There is never a time when God will not be with the people we love. They are not alone even when we can’t be with them. They are not without help even when we can’t do all we’d like to serve them. We don’t have to bear the weight of believing they can’t possibly make it unless we’re there every second.

And the same is true for us. As much as the people in our lives care for us, they can’t always be there for us either. They will sometimes be busy. They may be preoccupied. They may simply be unable to meet our needs. But God is always available. He is with us even when the room is empty. He surrounds us even when there is no one else in sight.

This is the beautiful truth we can trust for ourselves and others: We are never alone. In the moments when we feel helpless to do anything we can count on a God who can help more than we can even imagine. He’s not even a phone call, email or hug away—He’s right there with us right now, right here, every moment of every day.

XOXO,

Holley Gerth

P.S. Dawn Camp’s newest book, The Gift of Friendship, is the perfect thing to send a loved one when you can’t be near.

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About Holley

About Holley

Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author and Life Coach

I like humans, words, and good coffee. And I’d love to help you beat what’s holding you back, become all you’re created to be, and kick butt for the greater good.

Cheering you on,

Holley

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