{"id":27267,"date":"2021-06-04T00:00:01","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T06:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/?p=27267"},"modified":"2023-08-29T11:32:20","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T17:32:20","slug":"never-will-i-leave-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/never-will-i-leave-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Will I Leave You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you\u201d (Hebrews 13:5).<\/p>\n

When I was eight years old, I read Bible verses that explained God\u2019s love, my sin, Jesus\u2019 sacrifice, and my need to repent and accept God\u2019s grace in faith. God spoke to my heart. Although not audibly, He called to me: \u201cTrust Me. Follow Me. Never will I leave you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I did not fully understand God\u2019s grace then. I still don\u2019t. However, I knew I could trust God, so I took that first step.<\/p>\n

Promise for life<\/h2>\n

From the beginning of our journey together, I relied on God\u2019s promise never to leave me. Whether facing childhood illnesses, the death of loved ones, or thunderstorms that drove me to an inner stairway, I asked the one and only God who saved me to be with me. Often as a child, particularly during thunderstorms, I sang the comforting words of an old hymn, \u201cNo, Never Alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through the struggles of adolescence, school, career, and marriage choices, God\u2019s voice remained: \u201cTrust Me. Follow Me. Never will I leave you.\u201d Prayers for guidance, daily Bible reading, and the support of believing family members and friends helped me grow in faith and continue my walk in God\u2019s path.<\/p>\n

Many times I wished for a clearer map. Instead, God taught me to trust Him one step at a time, often into unexpected territory. When I sensed God\u2019s call to ministry, I anticipated serving on the mission field. Instead, God led me to social work.<\/p>\n

Employed by a secular agency, I asked God to shine His light through me. In the midst of 24\/7 on-call stress, God continued to speak: \u201cTrust Me. Follow Me. Never will I leave you.\u201d He walked with me through dysfunctional circumstances, court hearings that ripped families apart, and behavioral patterns that continued through multiple generations. I prayed for new insights that would lead to life changes in people. I praised God when those changes occurred.<\/p>\n

An invitation to join my first international mission team resulted in additional challenges and opportunities to trust God\u2019s guidance. Writing and performing dramatic skits, working with interpreters, and temporarily releasing my passport and visa in order to minister in a women\u2019s prison stretched, but grew, my faith. I worked additional trips into my schedule as often as possible.<\/p>\n

In spite of my job\u2019s inherent difficulties, I never planned to retire. I expected either to drop dead while making home visits or be kicked out the door when my abilities grew suspect. However, once again God spoke. I knew I needed to leave as surely as I had known all those years before that I was where God wanted me to serve. With no idea what the future held, I heard once again: \u201cTrust Me. Follow Me. Never will I leave you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The message that time included these words: \u201cEverything will be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winding road<\/h2>\n

God\u2019s call to serve as a friendship family for international university students came out of the blue. A friend, originally from Hong Kong, asked if one or two girls from Taiwan could stay with our family during the local university\u2019s winter break.<\/p>\n

Although a bit uncertain, we said yes. That answer led to some of the greatest relationships and experiences of our lives. We continue to hear from many of the students who have become a part of our ever-growing family.<\/p>\n

Soon after we stepped into that role, my husband was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. His initial prognosis was three to five years. He went into remission after three years, and his recovery continues to stump medical professionals.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, my husband\u2019s health challenges from the tumor, plus a heart attack, stroke, and fall with a severe brain injury five years later, halted further mission trips. At the same time, this ongoing experience has increased the impact of our testimony with the young people who have become a part of our family. We appreciate as never before God\u2019s leadership through every circumstance. \u201cTrust Me. Follow Me. Never will I leave you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since I was home more, I began submitting a few of my church and mission trip dramas for publication. Eventually I added other work, including articles, devotions, poetry, and Bible studies. At a writers\u2019 conference, I felt God\u2019s nudge to attend a workshop on ministry through writing. That led to radio dramas for translation into multiple languages broadcast around the world. I no longer take mission trips, but I now share God\u2019s love with more people than I could in a lifetime of short-term travel. \u201cTrust Me. Follow Me. Never will I leave you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lessons from God\u2019s promise<\/h2>\n

Through the decline and death of my father, God never left. As several family members face uncertain futures, God remains. He turns unexpected encounters with friends, family, acquaintances, and perfect strangers into lessons in faith and ministry opportunities.<\/p>\n

Looking back or looking forward, in every life stage and every event, I never cease to be amazed at God\u2019s comfort and strength. On top of the world or in the pit of despair, I have learned the following:<\/p>\n