This week, I’ve shuffled all four of my little loves off to a new School, full of new people and new routines and new places. They have been so very brave – not without slight trembling and butterflies – but, brave nonetheless.

After school, pick-up has been full of laughter and escalating voices as each little attempts to interject with their own tale from the day. New friends, new teachers, new schedules, new reward systems…the cause of tummy aches and sleepless nights are now fun and exciting in the light of day.

I watch the trepidation turn into joy and I find my heart full of peace.

And, I feel a gentle nudge. A reminder. A sweet whisper in the wind.

I will never leave or forsake you. In all things. I am here. 

I often find myself in mama-bear mode, questioning decisions like where to send my little people to school and how to protect them in this fallen world. I watch the news and read my social media feeds and feel overwhelmed. I am weary and exhausted from the strife and division and constant streaming negativity at every turn. I edge toward hopelessness. I wonder how any of us can possibly make a dent in the darkness. I want to move my people to a private island inside of a magical bubble and disconnect from it all.

That whisper.

In all things. 

He is here. God is not a distant, condemning figurehead, watching from afar as we mess up over and over again. He doesn’t wring his mighty hands, anxiously awaiting the next news story or Facebook post or rally or protest or terrorist attack. He is here. Among us. With us. Moving. Working. Breathing life. 

He is active. Even when this whole world threatens to move closer to the edge of darkness, He shines LIGHT. He works in and through us. His Kingdom is alive and well. Jesus taught us to pray for the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. We don’t have to sit here, stewing, helplessly waiting for the Kingdom of Heaven. We can go right ahead and bring the Kingdom to earth. We can shine light and love and peace right here, right where we are. Because, He is right here with us. Shining right through us.

I have to remember the words I proclaim over my children in the morning. The words I say to remind them who they are. The words to remind them they have nothing to fear. The words I prayed and prayed that first day as they walked into the new building, nerves and fear building and rumbling and threatening to overwhelm their precious souls.

You are daughters and sons of the King of kings. 

When you’re missing home or momma, you can close your eyes and take a deep breath and remember:

God is right here. 

When this whole world threatens to overwhelm and the fear and terror seep in through the night, we can remember: He is right here with us. We can do this. We can love abundantly. We can hope relentlessly. We can listen quietly. We can be peacemakers.

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