For the past eleven days, we’ve been on the road for three missions conferences and a one-day meeting.  From Georgia to Tennessee to North Carolina, we’ve visited four different churches and stayed in two hotels and two prophet’s chambers.  It’s been exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time, and during our trip, I’ve been reminded that spiritual lessons don’t only occur inside the church building.

As we settled into the bed on the first night at one of our hotels, we turned out the light and immediately heard the rustle of plastic.  

“Was that you?” Jason asked.

My heart skipped a beat as I squeaked, “No, I thought it was you.”  

We lay quietly in the bed, and the sound returned though this time with more vigor.  The noise was coming from the floor on Jason’s side of the bed (better his than mine!), and in the darkness, Jason stated the obvious.  “I think we have a mouse.”  Wonderful!

We turned the light back on to investigate, and sure enough, a certain critter (who was hidden at this time) had gotten ahold of Jason’s snack cake wrapper and was trying to fit it through some unseen hole in the wall.  Just lovely!  Uncertain what we could do about the critter and unwilling to change rooms at this time of night (it was after midnight, after all), we decided to do our best to ignore the greedy rodent and go to sleep.  Easier said than done.

As we turned off the light once more, it was only a moment before we heard another rustle, only this time the sound was emanating from the trashcan across the room.  Evidently, the critter had found more treasure he wanted to take home to his family.  As I tried to calm my nerves and relax, the rustling in the trashcan was accompanied by more rustling from under the bed.  So, either we had one gigantic mouse who was able to occupy the space under the bed and the trashcan across the room, or there was more than one rodent in our hotel room.  Honestly, I don’t know which idea gave me the creeps the most.

I lay as still and quiet as I could, trying to determine exactly how many other occupants there were in the room.  It didn’t take long before I came to the conclusion that I was never going to be able to get to sleep despite how exhausted I was.

But then, Jason had a wonderful idea.  He turned on the fan in the room.  It was noisy and dried out the air in an instant, but it also drowned out the noise of the rodents in the room.  And oddly enough, not being able to hear them gave me enough peace to be able to drift off to sleep.  

I remember thinking the fan wouldn’t make a difference because even though I couldn’t see or hear the mice, I still knew they were there.  But as soon as the thought hit me, another one drifted in behind it—I can’t see God, and sometimes I can’t hear Him, but I still know He’s there.  And I believe it was that comforting thought that allowed me to drift off into blissful slumber.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ”

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ”

“Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ”

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. ”

Over and over again, the Lord tells us He is with us and will never leave or forsake us.  He is always present, always watching, always listening, and yes, always caring.  Not a moment or situation of our lives passes by unnoticed.  Though we may not see Him working or hear His voice, He is there.  In the times we cannot feel His presence, we can find comfort in knowing we are never, ever alone.  And it is this truth that gives us hope.  Hope for a brighter tomorrow.  Hope for victory over our circumstances.  Hope for renewed strength and the determination to face the battle before us.  

Knowing we weren’t alone in the hotel room made me feel uneasy because I didn’t trust the intruders who had invaded our space.  Knowing I’m not alone in my daily walk through life, on the other hand, brings me peace because I trust the One who walks with me.  His presence is never an intrusion.  On the contrary, it’s a blessing.  And what a privilege to know the God of the universe loves me and cares about me enough to walk every step of my journey with me.  

Alone?  No, never alone!

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