Daily Devotional

When I was growing up, my parents got together every-other weekend with two couples to play a game called Aggravation. I think they liked it because they played guys against the girls, and someone always went home the loser (usually the girls). Nothing like married couples setting themselves up for even more aggravation. But that’s a topic for another devotional.

When it was time for ‘game night’, my parents would get a sitter for my sisters and I (I was the oldest), and we would be in bed long before my parents came home. Well, I remember the day my parents came to me and said, “Brian, this Friday is game night, you’re 12-years old now, do you still want us to get a babysitter?” I thought about it and said, “Yes, I don’t want to be alone.” Then I thought, “Wait a second, I’m tough, I can handle it.” And I went back to my parents and said, “Don’t get a sitter, I can do it.” They said, “You’ll be fine. We’ll leave you the number of the place we’re going, and if anything happens, just call and we’ll be right home.” Then they said, “And if the doorbell rings, don’t answer it, just in case it’s someone who wants to break in.” I said, “That doesn’t help!” They said, “Sorry, Brian. Really…you don’t have to worry, because nothing’s going to happen.”

Well, Friday night came around, and as my parents were getting ready to leave, I almost chickened out and said “Can you still get a sitter?” But I didn’t. As a little 7th grader, I tried to man-up, realizing the trust my parents were putting in me to take responsibility for my sisters, and for not allowing the house to be destroyed.

When I was finally alone, I have to admit, I was afraid. I heard every creak in the floor, every time the furnace kicked on, and every car that drove by. And I was praying like crazy that the doorbell wouldn’t ring. Then I remembered the promise of God from the Bible, “I will never desert you.” (Hebrews 13:5). And I found comfort in that promise.

How should we respond when we hear that God will never desert us?

1. Be confident
This is a promise from God, and He never breaks His promises. He will never desert you. He is faithful. He is at work. He protects and provides. This promise also refers to salvation. God provided a way. It does not depend on you. He will keep you and sustain you.

2. Be thankful
Is there a better promise to remember than the fact that God will never desert you? When you’re afraid, God will never desert you. When you feel alone, God will never desert you. When you face trials, God will never desert you. And when you breathe your final breath, God will never desert you.

As you look back over your life I’m sure you can see the faithfulness of God over and over again. This is the reason to be thankful both now and forever. The fact that God will never desert you should continually lead you to thankfulness.

3. Worship God
Being confident that God will never desert you, and the thankfulness that comes as a result, should lead you to worship. After all, God’s promises flow from His character. And our worship is focused on God’s character.

Well, I got my sisters to bed on time that Friday night, and then I went and laid on the couch. The next thing I knew, my parents were waking me up saying, “Brian, we’re home, you can go to bed.” I thought, “I did it. Even though I felt like I was alone, I wasn’t, because God was with me.”

As you finish up 2023, make sure you take some time to worship God for His faithfulness to you this past year, especially the fact that He will never desert you. Even if 2023 has been a very difficult year for you, worship God.  He has never gone back on a promise, and He never will.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation