Be strong

        and courageous.

Do not fear

or be in dread of them,

for it is the LORD your God

    who goes with you.

He will not leave you

                or forsake you.

            Deuteronomy 31. 6

(As one of our young daughters

    said in the middle of the night,

"If I knew you were there,

     I would not have been afraid."

When we trust God in this,

we approach the difficulty,

navigate the turbulent waters,

and handle it differently.

God does not just show us

   a new way through,

                  He is with us.

If we we were aware and

    responsive to His Presence,

we would live so differently,

see differently,

love and serve with a new heart,

see in the dark,

and walk through the sea

         or on the waves.

Worry just sinks the ship.)

O LORD,

Help us to not just

     wiggle out a space for You

     in this day,

but go forth with You.

Help us to rely on Your strength

   and carry Your courage

and know You go with us.

Even through the ordinary,

even through the impossible,

    we can trust You in this.

Help us to be faithful to You,

strong and courageous,

kind and gracious to others,

even if the fruit comes

         far beyond our lifetimes.

You always work

       in multiple outcomes.

Relying on Your strength

   realigns our hearts

   and points others to You.

When we cry out,

     "I can't do this,"

You reply,

    "Good, because I can."