Grandpa’s news shocks Liz and the gang. What can Liz do as things go from bad to worse?
Before You ListenTheme: Do not be afraid or discouraged. God is with you.
1. In I Chronicles 28:20, King David, nearing the end of his life, is reassuring his son Solomon. Solomon is about to become king and has a big job ahead of him: building God’s temple. David knows that being a king is a huge responsibility and reminds Solomon that God is with him through all the changes and challenges that are ahead. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a big job?
2. Joshua was also facing a big challenge. He was taking Moses’ place and leading the Israelites into the Promised land. Joshua has always had Moses around to give him advice. How will he be able to lead all of these people on his own? In Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Moses gives Joshua almost the same advice that David gives Solomon: Be brave. God is going to be with you every step of the way. As you listen to today’s episode, think about someone who you have relied on for advice. How would you feel if they were not going to be in your life any more?
Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.
In this episode, Liz is crushed to learn that one of his spiritual mentors is leaving. Losing someone important to you can be a scary part of life. Joshua felt that and so did Solomon. Jesus’ disciples felt that too. Whenever Jesus gave hints about the fact that he would have to leave his disciples, they grew very upset (John 16:5-7). He knew that he was leaving them with a big job to do and that they would be terrified about doing it without him.
When it came time for Jesus to go back into heaven, he left his disciples with the same encouragement that David and Moses gave: here is the work you have to do, and it’s hard, but don’t be afraid, because you will always have God’s help (Matthew 28:16-20).
Do you feel like Kids Corner has been a voice of wisdom for you? You may have listened for a long time and feel like Liz, Lucille, Chamy, Grandpa, and Granny are old friends. You may learn valuable lessons from them. More importantly, however, you have what Grandpa left Liz: the Bible! In fact, Grandpa’s letter to Liz could have been written for you too. “Dear (your name), This is the most important book you will ever read. Whenever you lose your way, it will point you like a compass to true north. (Your name), there is an important job God has for you to do. It’s why he created you. And never forget I Chronicles 28:20 ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.’”
Want to dig deeper into God’s presence when things are hard? Check out Exodus 33:12-14, Genesis 28:10-13, and Psalm 23.
Start a plan to spend more time with your Bible. Talk to your parents about finding a Bible reading plan. You can look online or find a devotion book. Ask friends and family members what they use. Choose a time every day to spend time reading and listening for God’s voice. Having a friend or family member to do the plan with you with give you someone to talk to and will help hold you accountable.