Uplifted

UPLIFTED
Psalm 40:2
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

(Indications of despair)

Jesse parked his bike and ran onto Trevor’s front porch. “Hey Trev. Want to go swimming?”

“Na.” (Disinterested in life)

“What do you want to do?” Jesse wondered.

“Don’t know, Jess.” Trevor shrugged his shoulders. (Unable to think, distracted)

“What happened, Trev?”

Trevor’s chin quivered as he admitted, “I’ve got to talk to someone…Mom’s gone, Jesse!”

“What?”

“She just split…But she promised to stay in touch with me.”

“Why did she leave?”

“It’s all Dad’s fault! They argued, and he threw her out of the house.” (Blaming someone)

“No way!”

“I haven’t slept, I can’t eat. It’s my fault, Jesse. I am a bad kid…She’d still be here if I hadn’t…” (Little self-worth)

Jesse swallowed hard, shaking his head. “Mom told me that you’d blame yourself, Trev. She wants me to hang tight.”

“I am not a charity case, Jesse!” Trevor yelled. “I don’t want you here on your Mom’s orders!” (Daring to end relationship)

“I WANT to be here, Trevor. You’re my best friend! Things are wrong when you’re not right. You’re very special, and I won’t let you forget that.”

“If you want to hang out with a loser, I’m your man.” (Critical, self-hating)

“Stop that, Trev! You’re not a loser! Have you prayed about this, buddy?”

“Yeah, sure. No answer at God’s place, either.” (God seems distant, absent) “Please leave me alone, Jesse.” (Building walls to protect self)

Jesse sighed. “Please don’t kick me out, Trev. I won’t leave, and God won’t abandon you, either. Let’s walk through this together…Do you have a Bible?

Take Home Nugget

Jesse opened the Bible at random, and began reading: 2Corinthians 6:18, 7:6: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters”…“God comforts the downcast“… Psalm 27:10: “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Last, Jesse found Joshua 1:5: “I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Then they went swimming. (Friends are God’s ambassadors.)

Dedicated to my SISter and friend, Ellen Hasbrouck—who gifted me a laptop computer—that has allowed me to post devotions for BibleStudyForKids.com around the country these past two years. On this, my second anniversary of writing devotions for children, I lift up praises and thanks to God for providing me everything I need—motivated by His peace—that passes all understanding.
Thank you, Ellen, for loving me as God’s ambassador of eternal friendship!

J.D. Griffith

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Written for Bible Study for Kids.