Alone

This past week we had a surprise visitor.  Across the street was deer.  And wobbling up our front lawn was her newborn fawn.  This little one looked barely able to stand let alone hobble up to the front of our house!  And Mommy was leaving!  

What was going on?  Mommy deer was leaving this newborn critter with us?  The baby proceeded to go under one of our trees and lay down.  The branches of the tree drape down, so he/she just made themselves very comfortable there and went to sleep.  

Now, I know nothing of deer.  So I asked my good friend Dr. Google and sure enough this is normal behavior.  What!!!!  This Mom just leaves this barely able to walk deer under a tree and goes loping off into the forest?  Well, yes that is exactly what they do.  Apparently she leaves her baby in a safe, concealed place and goes off to forage for her food.  And she leaves for hours.  And hours.  And hours.  

Doesn't it sometimes feel like God does that to us?  We walk along life's paths, encountering bumps and detours, and dark patches, feeling abandoned and alone.  But instead of peacefully resting like this little fawn did, we cry and fuss and wonder where our Father is.  

The reason Mom leaves the baby is because the fawn is too weak and wobbly to keep us with her if danger finds them.  So the baby is concealed alone until feeding time.  The baby needs time to grow stronger, so she leaves him/her behind.  

Sometimes we are "left alone" by God to help our faith grow.  In those times we need to go to Him to be fed, but trust that when He doesn't seem near, it doesn't mean we are alone.  We are always under His watchful eye.  We, like the little fawn, can rest peacefully knowing we are safe.  

Lord, remind us that even if it seems You are not with us, You are.  Remind us that Your Word tells us "Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5.  You are always with us and You always look out for us even when we don't feel it.  Increase our faith.  Make us like the fawn, resting and still because she trusted the process.  In Jesus' Name, amen.