Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you – Hebrews 13:5

Little Annie woke up in the middle of the night, screaming at the top of her voice. She had had a bad dream. The room was dark, and she felt lonely and afraid.

“It’s alright, dear. Mommy is here.”

Relieved, little Annie threw her arms around her mother and clung tightly to her.

“Don’t leave me, mommy. They will kill me,”

“Don’t be afraid, dear. I will not leave you.”

Jennifer rocked Annie in her arms until she loosed her grip around mommy’s neck and her arms dropped limp. Planting a kiss on Annie’s forehead, Jennifer tucked her in and turned to leave.

“Don’t leave me, Mommy. I am afraid they will come back.”

Jennifer awkwardly dropped in a chair facing Annie’s bed, surprised by Annie’s attentiveness.

“I am not leaving you, my dear. See, Mommy is sitting here, and will be here through the night. They cannot get you. Go to sleep, my darling.”

The little eyes opened into the reassuring face of mommy in the chair, and a broad smile broke in Annie’s face.

“Thank you Mommy.” And she drifted into a comfortable slumber.

The power of the presence of a mother with a child! How amazing? Its powerful influence is unimaginable. It gives the child security and comfort, and frees them from all fear. That’s the kind of presence we all need in our lives, and our Father in heaven knows that.

God is aware of the snares and dangers of this broken world. He knows the intensity of the battle that rages between His children and the ferocious enemy who constantly haunts and seeks to destroy us (Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Pt. 5:8). Our Father in heaven knows the wickedness of sinful humanity and the constant threat of the seductiveness of the flesh. He knows that we are weak against these forces, and that we cannot stand against them on our own. This is what gives scriptures like Matthew 28:20b, purpose and warmth: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This assurance was given in the context of the Great Commission, but its application transcends the fields of worldwide outreach, where wolves masquerade as lambs (Lk. 10:3). It embraces every child of God in every situation and at all times. God assures His children of His ever presence in many places in scripture.

In Psalm 23 David declares, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4). In Isaiah forty-three, God declares to Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you … When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Is. 43:1-2). In Hebrews 13:5, the Spirit of God assures the believer: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” The believer can therefore say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (6)

So, the room may be dark and chilly, but God is with us. The opposition may be fierce and the storm ferocious, but our Redeemer and Lord is with us. Like little Annie, assure yourself of Jesus’ ever-presence every day and snooze away in His arms while the storm rages around you.