After David Livingstone (Scottish physician, Congregationalist, and pioneer Christian missionary with London Missionary Society) returned to his native Scotland after sixteen difficult years as a missionary and explorer in Africa, his body was emaciated by the ravages of some twenty-seven fevers that had coursed through his veins during his time in Africa. His left arm hung useless at his side, the result of his being mangled by a lion. Speaking to the students at Glasgow University, he said, “Shall I tell you what sustained me during the hardship and loneliness of my exile? It was Christ’s promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” As children of God we can bank on that promise too. No matter the challenges we face, Christ will never leave us. He will be with us every step of the way. His love will always be with us because nothing can ever separate us from it. Scripture says “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Let’s keep these promises before us today and always.

Credit (David Livingstone’s story): Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham