“God Will Never Forsake Us” – by Justin March

Our guest author today is Justin March.  Justin leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.  

I hope this message finds you safe and in good health. Here at the March household, we have hunkered down, re-discovered one another, and made the best of the current times we live in. It is our faith that keeps us close, upbeat, and connected, and this faith gives us hope for how God plans to use us in this new world.

For those of you that read my message every week, you know most of my writings revolve around finding God in simple places. He can often seem aloof, especially in times like these, and I know it can become difficult to see how he is working in our lives. But as I reminisce about the week that passed, I am amazed at how many times he revealed himself.

First, I see God in the faces of my family. I see us becoming closer as we put puzzles together, watch movies, take walks, sit down for meals, and communicate. Without the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it has given us a chance to slowdown, understand one another, and be thankful for the gift of being together.

Second, I see God in the joy of our two dogs. They love this quarantine thing and are thankful to have us home. They are playful, devoted, and understanding, and God has put them in our lives so we can understand how to be compassionate and to practice love without boundaries. With the extra time we have on our hands, it has been a blessing to spend time with two of God’s most precious creatures.

Third, I see God in the conversations I am having with friends and family. With the gift of extra hours, every day, God has allowed me to keep in touch with those I love. Whether it be by text, skype, or phone call, those conversations have healing power and keep me connected to the world outside these walls. This disease may keep me from face to face interaction, but God is making sure I stay connected through all other resources.

My friends, it has been written that God will never forsake us. I know times are trying, and it may be difficult to see how he is working in your life. But let me tell you this. He is here! He knows we are hurting. He knows we are scared. So, we must reach out to him. We must pray, we must read our Bibles, and we must stay connected. If we do this, we can remain upbeat and filled with hope. We can remain faithful and be a beacon for others. And, in these dark times, we can help pull each other from the trenches and spread God’s word!

As I see the positives, over the next few weeks, I may drop a few short notes. I want to stay connected, and hopefully a few extra messages, each week, will help you keep your faith and build hope in your life. Until then, stay safe, wash your hands, and enjoy the extra time in God’s everlasting arms!