September 22, 2009 in Uncategorized with 10 Comments

I’ll See You This Afternoon

This year has been a defining moment for our family. Our youngest son Isaiah started first grade this year. Trisha and I were both excited and sad. Isaiah is our fearless kid. He’s six years old and he will ride a zip line, he’ll climb a wall with repelling gear, he’ll dive off of a diving board, go down a water slide, ride a roller coaster.

Needless to say, we were really surprised the first week of school when Isaiah freaked out EVERY day. He cried every single day the first week of school. I walked him from our car into his class each of the first five days of class, and he still cried. Finally, after much prying and many conversations, he finally was able to articulate why he was so sad. “I’m afraid you won’t be there to pick me up. I’m scared you are going to leave me at school.” Both Trisha and I reassured him we could never forget about him. We would never leave him. We would never abandon him at school.

But here is the deal…that wasn’t good enough. I mean, it was for that moment, but the next morning, Isaiah said right before he got out of the van “I’ll see you this afternoon.” Trisha said, “I’ll see you this afternoon.” This conversation has taken place every morning since the second week of school. He knows in his head we won’t leave him at school, but his heart needs reminded of this truth.

The same is true for me in life. There are times that I feel like God has forgotten about me. There are days that I feel totally alone and utterly abandoned. There are moments of sheer panic that overcome me as I wonder if God still knows and cares about me. I know in my head that He is always there, but my heart needs to be reminded of this truth often.

I think God knew this about me…and He says over and over in His word the very thing my heart needs to hear:

“I will never leave you or abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5
“Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you”. Isaiah 46:4

Maybe today, you are feeling alone. Maybe you feel God has abandoned you. Maybe you feel forgotten or overlooked. Allow your heart to be reminded what your mind already knows. God will not leave you, he will not abandon you. He is with you in this moment…He sees you this afternoon!
*Excuse the audio on the video below…I was trying to record Isaiah without him knowing I was recording him…I think he figured it out. You may need to turn up the volume a little.

See You This Afternoon from Justin Davis on Vimeo.

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert

    And sometimes it feels like the longest afternoon ever. :)

    I've struggled with this a lot lately. It's so hard to get it from my head to the heart. You can know it cold and still it just doesn't seem to get through. God used my wife to convict me of that the other night. She looked at me and said "you just know more Scripture than some pastors I know but you just don't get sometimes that God's always there." Ouch. (And you know you're in trouble when your spouse gives you a big compliment followed by a "but"…) It's like you…I "know" it…I don't "feel" it.

    In my cache of weak analogies, I often said I felt like a knick knack God placed on a shelf somewhere and forgot about it. You know…that old toy or keychain or something that has usefulness but you forget it's there. I know how messed up that thought is because God never just tosses us aside but sometimes the heart just feels what it feels.

    Thanks for the encouragement today, Justin. The video's a nice touch. :)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert

    And sometimes it feels like the longest afternoon ever. :)

    I've struggled with this a lot lately. It's so hard to get it from my head to the heart. You can know it cold and still it just doesn't seem to get through. God used my wife to convict me of that the other night. She looked at me and said "you just know more Scripture than some pastors I know but you just don't get sometimes that God's always there." Ouch. (And you know you're in trouble when your spouse gives you a big compliment followed by a "but"…) It's like you…I "know" it…I don't "feel" it.

    In my cache of weak analogies, I often said I felt like a knick knack God placed on a shelf somewhere and forgot about it. You know…that old toy or keychain or something that has usefulness but you forget it's there. I know how messed up that thought is because God never just tosses us aside but sometimes the heart just feels what it feels.

    Thanks for the encouragement today, Justin. The video's a nice touch. :)

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Jason…you are not alone. Many of us have felt this way at different times in life. Praying for you bro!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Lindsey_Nobles Lindsey_Nobles

    It is awesome that he opened up and told you what was at the heart of the problem. Lots of times I think I am not willing to go there — It is just too hard, too scary, too painful to admit what is at the heart of my fear. And I don't think until I do that God can't step in and provide reassurance.

    Have I told you how much I appreciate you and Trisha's hearts? So glad you guys are in Nashville.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thank you so much Lindsey! Looking forward to getting to know you better! Thanks for your transparency here! It is hard to move past fear and embrace God's best.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Lindsey_Nobles Lindsey_Nobles

    It is awesome that he opened up and told you what was at the heart of the problem. Lots of times I think I am not willing to go there — It is just too hard, too scary, too painful to admit what is at the heart of my fear. And I don't think until I do that God can't step in and provide reassurance.

    Have I told you how much I appreciate you and Trisha's hearts? So glad you guys are in Nashville.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thank you so much Lindsey! Looking forward to getting to know you better! Thanks for your transparency here! It is hard to move past fear and embrace God's best.

  • Denae Barnett

    Oh I so needed to read this post today. And, as strange as it seems, it helped what has started out as a not very good day so far to hear your voices on the video. I miss you guys so much and could really use a lunch date with Trish right now, but instead I am so thankful to be able to stay connected to what God is doing in you and through your lives.

  • Denae Barnett

    Oh I so needed to read this post today. And, as strange as it seems, it helped what has started out as a not very good day so far to hear your voices on the video. I miss you guys so much and could really use a lunch date with Trish right now, but instead I am so thankful to be able to stay connected to what God is doing in you and through your lives.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

    Jason…you are not alone. Many of us have felt this way at different times in life. Praying for you bro!