“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you;
he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” –Deuteronomy 31:8
God is our Father, protector, and security blanket. Deuteronomy 31:8 offers a glimpse of Moses with the Israelites as they were about to enter the promised land. This verse reminds us that God is always leading us. He’s there for us without fail. If you are discouraged, look to him. Just as he is there for you in good times, he’s there in bad times. My mom, Elli, and I experienced this same faithfulness on a recent trip abroad.
When we considered the trip to see the famous Passion Play, we felt the Lord urging us to go on this adventure. The trip was to Oberammergau, Germany, and then embarked on a Danube River cruise. First Church organized this trip, which was postponed for two years due to COVID-19. We intentionally prayed for the trip and asked God to bless it. We felt the Lord telling us to be courageous, for he would travel with us. His presence was evident in the kindness of our travel companions, trip coordinators, and pastors.
Sitting in our room one night, we felt his presence and thought, “This must be what heaven will be like. Thank you, God, for this mother-daughter time together. We are blessed to walk with you on our trip. Sometimes we may be afraid but know you’re our protector.”
Sitting in the massive theater in Oberammergau, we felt blessed to witness the performance with hundreds of others. The most significant role was our Lord Jesus, who reminded us of his great sacrifice and amazing gift of forgiveness through the cross.
After the extraordinary play, we embarked on our Danube River cruise. A few days in, my mom fell ill with COVID. We stayed in the room and visited a doctor at our next stop. Unfortunately, she missed many tours and excursions, but this did not diminish our gratitude. I made sure she had what she needed and kept her occupied.
“I felt my daughter’s loving support. And the Lord was truly walking before us,” Elli thought. “I felt his presence and was unafraid, just as Joshua experienced God’s presence and courage amid pleasant and hard times.” God was there when we needed him the most.
It’s been two years since our trip, and it is neat how God’s big hug is what we remember about that trip. His love and kindness were evident. We will never forget this experience and the goodness and blessing of Christian friends. Most of all, we will never forget the power of God’s love between mother and daughter through a journey of highs and lows.
by Elli Morawietz and Karin Lafountain
