When I was a teenager, I heard a song that captivated me. It’s not a spiritual song, but the lyrics are very moving: “Lord I’m one, Lord I’m two, Lord I’m three, Lord I’m four, Lord I’m five hundred miles away from home.” And it goes on to say “Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name, Lord I can’t go back home this ole way.” Although I had yet to experience any major times of wandering and alone-ness, the lyrics stayed with me. I pictured a tired and forlorn person, desperately homesick, and struggling to find their way back.

Even as I have gotten older, and frankly forgotten some of the lyrics, this song still resides deep in my soul. Through many events in my life..moves, losses, deaths of loved ones..I have come to understand and feel this song in new ways. Of course, Jesus spoke it best in the parable of the prodigal son, who truly did NOT have a penny to his name, and his utter reluctance to ho home that way..but he went.

The last few weeks my life has been a struggle. Every single day. Meds that I am on had to be changed, and it sent me into a deep, personal struggle to regain what I call a sense of “normal” me. Hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute, I fought to not give in to the temporary feeling of depression and sadness, and to try and remember that better times were ahead. And at last I have made it to the other side, with new meds working well, and new side effects under control. But WOW. Really.

And yet! Through all of those weeks, and hours, and days, I was NEVER alone! Yes I had my hubby, and a couple of very good friends, but I had THE Friend, Jesus, with me and carrying me through it all. There were so many days when I couldn’t see that…and when I felt even more than 500 miles away from God and His reach…but hallelujah that was never true. God was always right by my side, and even though I felt penniless and broken in His presence, I could go HOME. Home to His loving arms and comfort, home to His encouraging Word, His grace, and His mercy. He didn’t mind how I “looked” or how I felt..He just got me through to the other side, and welcomed me every time I sought Him.

There’s a beautiful Scripture that applies here, and it has also always been one of my favorites: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10) Isn’t that awesome? I am once again living proof that this promise is TRUE..and that we serve a God who always, always, always keeps His promises!

So how about you? Are you in the wilderness? Have you just come out of it? Or do you have that unsettling feeling that you’re about to head there? Then trust me. Or better yet trust HIM. Read this Psalm, over and over, and all the other promises in His Word. And realize again that God’s true, born again by His Spirit believers are NEVER alone, and that He is s ALWAYS faithful to bring us through anything we face, anywhere we are!!