June '26

 

"...And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age." - Jesus

This was the very first bible verse I memorized.  I went to my first funeral when I was around 7 or 8 years old.  That is a story for another day, but it made me afraid of death.

I was afraid of my family dying and I was afraid of God dying.  I was afraid of being alone.  So, I found myself clinging to Jesus' words right after the great commission in Matthew 28: "surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."

It's probably not (correction: definitely not) a coincidence that this is the verse for June.  I need this verse right now.  I need to know that Jesus isn't going anywhere.  The past few weeks have held some very scary and hard days for my family.  The Lord has us, but it has been rough.  It's been almost 30 years since I first learned this verse and yet, I find myself still afraid that He will leave.  I can so easily go back to that 7 year old version of Emily and feel all the fear try to swallow me up.

My homework from my counselor right now is literally to find verses that speak to security in Jesus.  Like I said, this verse is timely for me.  I hope it is as comforting to you as it is to me, that is: the fact that He will never leave.  He will never die again.  Even if the worst happens, even if it's cancer even if its broken even if all is lost - He will be there.  He won't leave.  There is no darkness that too dark to Him (Psalm 139:12).  He will be with you in it.  He will bring you through it.

I think the best thing I can do this month is share with you some of what I'm finding as a result of my counseling homework.  I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit would use one of these to speak to you.

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"Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written for your sake, we faith death all day long we are considered a sheep to be slaughtered no in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, for I am convinced that neither death nor life neither Angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord." - Romans 8:35 -39

"If you love Me [Jesus], you will obey what I command, and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of Truth the world cannot accept Him because it neither sees him nor knows Him, but you know Him for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans I will come to you." John 14:15 -18

"From heaven, the Lord looks down and sees all mankind from His dwelling place. He watches all who live on earth He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do."  Psalm 33:13-15

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer my God, my rock, and whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God, our Savior appeared, He saved us not because of work done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Christ Jesus, our Savior so that being justified by His grace, we might become heirs to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7

"God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

"It is the Lord who goes before you He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8

"I called on Your name oh Lord from the depths of the pit You heard my plea. Do not close Your ears to my cry for relief You came near when I called You and You said do not fear. Oh Lord, You took up my case You redeemed my life, You have seen all the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause." Lamentations 3:55-59

"I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.  My eyes grow weak with sorrow they fail because of all my foes. Away from me all you who do evil for the Lord has heard my weeping the Lord has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord accepts my prayer."  Psalm 6:6-9 

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  John 1:4-5

"Trust in Him at all times, O people. Before Him, pour out your heart. God is a refuge for us. 

Psalm 62:8

He will answer the prayers of the needy. He will not reject their prayers. Psalm 102:17

We need Him.  He knows it, and He's not going anywhere.