Ordinary Time 
Pause
“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
Mary Stevenson, "Footprints in the Sand," 1936
In our hardest of times it is often difficult to recognize God’s presence. The Lord is carrying us on our journey of faith. We do not walk alone!
Listen
God has weakened my mind; the Almighty has frightened me. Still I’m not annihilated by darkness; he has hidden deep darkness from me.
Job 23:16-17
Think
After years living in one place, we moved. I left behind friends, familiar restaurants, favorite stores for shopping, and chances to be with family in certain places. It wasn’t easy to move, and I think it will never be easy to leave behind what’s familiar when you’ve put down roots somewhere. But we’re a ministry family, and when God calls to a new place, leaving is inevitable.
Holidays lose some joy when new traditions are started in new homes. Making new friends is hard, scary, and lonely. Navigating the halls of new schools is frightening.
Thankfully, when we think it’s all too much to bear and we’d rather hide in the corner, God shines light our way. A friend sits with you at lunch. Christmas cards arrive from new neighbors. Teachers encourage you to join school activities. Even in the darkness of a move, God makes it all okay and keeps us from feeling like we’ve fallen down a tunnel of loneliness. God wants us to not only survive, but thrive in all circumstances.
Katie Barrett Todd
Pray
God of the sun, thank you for shining light into my darkness so that it won’t overtake me. Cast the shadows away from my eyes so that I might see the brightness of your love. Thank you, thank you, thank you, amen.
Go
The “Footprints” poem ends with: The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
Go, remembering that God is always with you. Be blessed this day, opening your eyes to gaze upon the glory of the Lord. And remind others who seem to be asking similar questions, that Christ lives in you!
