Different and Better - Thursday
TODAY’S VERSE
Hebrews 13:5b
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (NIV)
2026 is a big year for the Johnson family. Among many things happening, the most exciting (and terrifying) is that my daughter is getting married in June. And if that isn’t enough, she’ll be moving to Pittsburgh for grad school and for her husband-to-be’s job.
To put that into perspective, she’s always been close to home. She went to school at LCA, where her mom teaches (and even had her as her first-grade teacher). She swam competitively through middle and high school, so we spent countless hours together in the car and at swim meets. When it came time for college, she chose Asbury University, just 25 miles from our house. It’s safe to say that whenever she needed something, we were there.
Over the past four years of college, I’ve delivered medicine, dropped off food and groceries, brought coats and hats when she forgot them, and even showed up with a new car battery when hers had died.
But starting June 7, things will be different. She’ll be living six hours away with her husband. I won’t be able to pop over for lunch or drop off whatever she needs. And yet, this transition has given me a deeper understanding of what God means when He says, “Never will I leave you.” I’ll still be there for her, just in a different way. And much like my experience with rappelling, I’m learning to lean back, trust the rope, and trust God to be there for her when I can’t.
God has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us, but we often forget that in the rhythms of everyday life. If I’m honest, I tend to remember this promise only when I need Him most. But whether we feel His presence or not, He is always there. God isn’t someone who just pops in when we’re desperate. He’s not a dad who can be there “in 20 minutes.” He is always present. He is our lifeline and our provider.
I’m realizing that I’m not placing my daughter into God’s hands—she’s been there the whole time. I’ve simply had a front-row seat to watch what He’s been doing in her life. And as I enter this new season, I’m learning to lean into God even more.
APPLICATION
Regardless of what you’re facing, God is with you. Whether you feel close to Him or distant, His presence never changes. Lean on Him today. Allow Him to lead, shape, and transform you—and take time to talk with Him now.
PRAYER
Ask God to help you trust His constant presence, especially in seasons of change or uncertainty. Invite Him to deepen your reliance on Him and to remind you that He has never left your side.