Daddy’s Girl: The Promise My Father Never Made or Could Keep

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

I write this devotional as much as for myself than anyone. Saturday I did the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. My family and I buried my dad. He died last Monday and we as a family, although happy he is no longer suffering, are devastated.  If you have known me long enough, you would have quickly found out that I was and always will be a daddy’s girl. When my father passed, I realized that for the first time my foundation was gone; my safety net.  There wasn’t anything I couldn’t ask my daddy to do for me, that if humanely possible, that he wouldn’t have done.  Not just for me, but for my brother and sister as well.  My dad was the most dependable person I have ever met. He was always there for somebody, helping with something.  Yet now that time has come to pass and although I feel a huge loss and void, I also recognize the one promise my dad could never make to me was to never leave me.  You see, he knew he one day would.

For the first time in my life, I felt that if I fell there would literally be nothing or no one to cushion my fall. But that is not true.  My falls have always been cushioned beyond my daddy and they will continue to be cushioned by my heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. So although I have quoted “He will never forsake you…” many times before, it now holds different meaning to me.

My daddy is gone, but my Father is not.  I do not walk the days ahead alone and neither do you.  If you have lost a loved one, have been separated or even divorced from a loved one, or even just feel that the burden of life is overwhelming, know that you are not alone. You can free fall and know there is a safety net in the Lord. He will never leave you or forsake you.

May the Lord keep each of you in your journey, may you feel the comfort and love that only He can give, and in all things know that He will never forsake you nor leave you. You are covered and cherished. We all are.

Walk with Him,

Shaniqua & The Great Is Team