Dodger and Lilly are going to talk about something pretty serious tonight. If you don't usually, it'd be a good idea to read this with your parents. Thanks!
Dodger: Hi.
Lilly: Um, is that it?
Dodger: Is what it?
Lilly: Is that all you're going to say?
Dodger: Huh?
Lilly: Our friend is here, and you didn't say anything!
Dodger: I said "Hello"!
Lilly: Barely. What's wrong?
Dodger: I miss someone.
Lilly: Oh? Who?
Dodger: A good friend.
Lilly: Which one?
Dodger: My...cousin. He's going overseas.
Lilly: Okay, well, is that a bad thing?
Dodger: He's being deployed.
Lilly: Oh.
Dodger: Lilly, I don't know what to do right now. What if something happens to him?
Lilly: I...
Dodger: Like, what if he gets hurt? Or worse? What will I do then?
Lilly: What are you doing now?
Dodger: I'm...praying, and hoping that he'll return safe and sound.
Lilly: Good call.
Dodger: That doesn't always mean people come back home safe and sound, though!
Lilly: I- well...
Dodger: What if God doesn't listen?! What if my cousin doesn't come back? What do I DO?
Lilly: Dodger, listen to me for a minute, please. Do you trust God to protect your cousin and do what is best for him?
Dodger: Yes...I guess...I don't know.
Lilly: Can I read you something? I think you've heard it before, but now I want to do it again.
Dodger: Okay.
Lilly: "There are many who say,“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:6-8 NKJV)
Dodger, I want you to know that your cousin is in God's hands, and that he couldn't be in better, just as you couldn't be in better. He has God's protection, and God will be with him every single day like He's with you. Sometimes, just like now, we feel like maybe God's light can't penetrate our situation, but it can. Just because we face a challenge or risk doesn't mean God isn't with us. You need to remember how much God loves you and your cousin and trust that God knows exactly what He's doing. Yes, your cousin may be facing danger, but we all do that. The amazing thing is that God looks out for us. Trust me, Dodger. Your cousin isn't getting any farther from God by going somewhere else. Psalm 139 makes that clear:
"Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You." (v. 7-12 NKJV)
Lilly: Barely. What's wrong?
Dodger: I miss someone.
Lilly: Oh? Who?
Dodger: A good friend.
Lilly: Which one?
Dodger: My...cousin. He's going overseas.
Lilly: Okay, well, is that a bad thing?
Dodger: He's being deployed.
Lilly: Oh.
Dodger: Lilly, I don't know what to do right now. What if something happens to him?
Lilly: I...
Dodger: Like, what if he gets hurt? Or worse? What will I do then?
Lilly: What are you doing now?
Dodger: I'm...praying, and hoping that he'll return safe and sound.
Lilly: Good call.
Dodger: That doesn't always mean people come back home safe and sound, though!
Lilly: I- well...
Dodger: What if God doesn't listen?! What if my cousin doesn't come back? What do I DO?
Lilly: Dodger, listen to me for a minute, please. Do you trust God to protect your cousin and do what is best for him?
Dodger: Yes...I guess...I don't know.
Lilly: Can I read you something? I think you've heard it before, but now I want to do it again.
Dodger: Okay.
Lilly: "There are many who say,“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:6-8 NKJV)
Dodger, I want you to know that your cousin is in God's hands, and that he couldn't be in better, just as you couldn't be in better. He has God's protection, and God will be with him every single day like He's with you. Sometimes, just like now, we feel like maybe God's light can't penetrate our situation, but it can. Just because we face a challenge or risk doesn't mean God isn't with us. You need to remember how much God loves you and your cousin and trust that God knows exactly what He's doing. Yes, your cousin may be facing danger, but we all do that. The amazing thing is that God looks out for us. Trust me, Dodger. Your cousin isn't getting any farther from God by going somewhere else. Psalm 139 makes that clear:
"Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You." (v. 7-12 NKJV)
This same God, who is everywhere, died to give your cousin new life.
Dodger: Thank you, Lilly.
Lilly: Anytime, Dodger. I'll keep your cousin in my prayers. Please, can you also be sure to pray for those serving overseas and everyone in their families? God is listening to us when we lift them up. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Dodger: See you later.
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
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