A Semester Abroad

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been almost two weeks since our daughter, Joanna, left for her study abroad semester in Vienna, Austria.  It’s a weird feeling to have your child that far away, so far out of reach, for the very first time.  This time of year she would normally be back at college, about an hour and a half away.  Although we wouldn’t see her much throughout the semester, communication was easier and it felt like she was within reach.  Now there’s a whole ocean plus half a continent between us. (She seems even further out of reach than when our son, Jonathan, was living in Costa Rica and then Nicaragua for a whole year!)  

Of course, Kim and I are glad for Joanna. We know she’s going to have a great experience.  This really is an opportunity of a lifetime!  Are we nervous about all the things that could happen? Maybe just a bit. Yes, we know that there are a lot of things happening in Europe these days.  But we wouldn’t want her to live her life based on fear.  As her parents, the best we can do is entrust her wellbeing into the hands of God, believing that he loves our daughter so much more than we ever could. Joanna may be spending a semester abroad, far from our watch and care. When it comes to God, however, she is still within his watch, his reach,  and his care.

Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:26-27 – NIV)  Peter wrote, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you.”  (1 Peter 5:7 – NLT) 

The exhortation of Scripture is for us to trust in God’s care.  Does that mean that nothing bad could ever happen to her or to any of our children—or, to us?  Of course not! But it does mean that God sees all things, is always with us, and really does care about us. Thus, we entrust our lives and the lives of our loved ones into his hands, resting in the knowledge that we serve a God who values each one of us and will continue to watch over our lives.  

Whatever it is you are concerned about today; whomever it is you are concerned about today, I want to encourage you to place every situation and every person into the hands of the our heavenly Father.   Know that he truly does love and care for both you and them. 

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris