Listen

Don’t fear, I am with you. From the east I’ll bring your children; from the west I’ll gather you. I’ll say to the north, “Give them back!” and to the south, “Don’t detain them.” Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name and whom I created for my glory, whom I have formed and made.

Isaiah 43:5-7

Think

There’s a children’s book about a little bunny who is trying to run away from home. His mother finds out and promises that she will follow anywhere he goes.

“If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.” The story goes on to list all of the places the little bunny might try to go and how the mother bunny will go anywhere and do anything to be with her child.

In Isaiah 43, the Lord is saying the same thing to us. We can go to the north, south, east, and west — even to “the ends of the earth” — and God will gather us up and bring us back.

But why? Why doesn’t God just let us go?

God’s answer is like the mother bunny’s. She says “For you are my little bunny.” God says the same thing. “You are called by my name!” We are God’s creation. We are God’s precious children. God glories in us. And God will never let us go.

Amy Bost Henegar

Pray

Gracious and eternal God, you are always with me. Everything I have is yours, a gracious gift from the one who made me and loves me. Remind me that you are with me and will never let me go, no matter what comes. Help me today. Through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Go

There’s a living stream, with a crystal gleam:
From the throne of life now it flows;
While the waters roll let the weary soul
Hear the call that forth freely goes.

Will you come to the fountain free?
Will you come? ’Tis for you and me;
Thirsty soul, hear the welcome call:
’Tis a fountain opened for all.

from “There’s a Fountain Free” by Mary B. Slade (1876)