Deuteronomy 1:31

You saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as a man carries his son.

This verse comes from a passage in which Moses addresses Israel after they have wandered in the desert for forty years. Moses is reminding all of Israel how God has looked after them, has taken care of them, has led them to this place--the promised land. He tells them not to be afraid, because God will go before them and He will fight on their behalf, just like He did in Egypt before their eyes. Here he reminds them how God carried them through the desert, "just as a man carries his son."

Thoughts for the day...
The picture I have in my head right now makes me smile, because I do it with Landon all the time. Those of you who are dads have had this moment more than a handful of times, and I know it brings you joy, too. We've had a family night out, and Landon is out--asleep before we even get back to the car. We're now home, and I gently reach into the back seat to scoop him into my arms and take him inside. I carry him, holding him tightly to my own body, his head resting on my shoulder, his eyes closed as he dreams. I walk up the stairs to his room and get ready to put him into bed, not wanting to let him go because of the peace and the perfection of this moment with my child. I just want to hold him, keep him in my care, keep him safe.

This is what I picture when I read the above verse. I see God holding us closely to Him, carrying us when we're too tired to go on by our own strength. We are His children, and He has told us in His word that He cares more for us than anything else. God is our gentle, caring, loving Father, who will always give us the strength we need for anything we will face. But sometimes, He just wants to carry us and remind us just how much He loves us.

My Prayer
Thank you, God, for Your perfect, never-ending love--a love that I can share with my own son. Thank you for showing me how much You love me by carrying me when I'm too tired or weak to continue on my own.