He Carries Us Through

Toni M. Babcock

And he said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14 ESV).

Today I spotted a lumbering turtle out the kitchen window after breakfast. 

It was crossing over a small landing to get to a boggy pond. 

I had a yearning to go find him, so after eating my waffles I got dressed, pulled out my rubber boots, and went on a turtle hunt. 

I found it heading down one end of the shallow pond where water had seeped away due to last year’s dry conditions, but where it was still wet and grassy from recent rain and snow melt. 

It was a painted turtle – flailing its little legs as if he could swim in mid-air when I held it up. 

Its sharp little claws poking me like defensive razors, making it a trick to hold him without getting scratched! 

I walked the little darling down to where the water was deep enough to swim and let him go. 

Not sure if he appreciated the free ride or not, but I noticed he stopped struggling when he realized I was helping him achieve his goal, and not hurting him.

It reminds me how resistant we can be when God reaches down to carry us to a place where we can thrive and grow as believers. We may not understand the good place He is taking us too, and we may fight and scratch to get Him to leave us alone so we can get to where we want to go ourselves. 

Sooner or later however, we figure out God is helping, not hurting us— and we stop resisting.

Lord, help us to appreciate your watch care over us. 

Grant us the faith to trust your guidance so that we will rest in your ability to carry us through every trial we encounter in this life. 

Keep us safe in Your hands oh Lord. 

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Toni is author of The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens, and Reflections from the Heart, in Light of the Gospel of Jesus. Contact