Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:19-23
"You can't trust anyone." Emma sighed as she walked along the beach with her aunt. "He promised to love my mom forever. And now what? He's going to leave me and Mom and never see us again?"
"I'm sorry," her aunt said. "I wish things had worked out better."
"He promised he was going to be like a dad to me," Emma said.
"You and your mom have both been hurt twice now," her aunt said. "It's terrible, and I'm sorry." She bent to pick up a shell. "I don't know what it's like to have a dad or stepdad leave me, but I know that breakups are difficult. They make it hard to trust."
"I'm never trusting anyone again. Everyone lies. No one stays with you." Emma's eyes filled with tears. "How do I even know you'll stay? How do I trust God anymore?" She kicked at the sand. "You know what? I don't."
"Emma." Her aunt dropped the shell and put her arms around her. "Sweetheart…"
"I wanted him to stick around!" Emma cried. "Mom was happy when he was with us."
They stood there together, Emma crying and her aunt trying to comfort her, until a loud seagull got their attention and they pulled apart.
Emma wiped her eyes. "I don't know if I can trust God anymore."
Her aunt pointed to the water. "Who made that?"
"God," Emma said. "He made the whole world."
"Right," her aunt said. "There's a verse in Psalms that says God made the sea and goes on to say that He is always going to be faithful. Faithful…it's what a couple promises to be when they get married. But people mess up. God doesn't ever mess up--He will always be there for you."
"It's hard to believe that," Emma said.
"I know. But the One who made you and sent His Son to die for you is not going to abandon you. He loves you too much to do that."
Emma bent down and picked up a smooth stone. "I think I'll keep this to remember what you said--to remember that the God who made the ocean is always going to be faithful."
–Emily Acker
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