“The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One. I will say about the Lord, ‘He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him.’ ”
— Psalm 91:1 – 2 (NIrV)
As Mom and Maddie and two-year-old Rachel walked the short distance home from church, Maddie noticed the shadow in Mom’s eyes. Since Dad stopped living with them, Maddie had seen that shadow of unhappiness often. That evening, Mom started drinking again.
Maddie pretended that she didn’t see what was happening. Yet as she watched TV, she kept count of the glasses, and her uneasiness grew. Sometimes when Mom drank, she just got sad and talked strange. Other times she acted mean.
In her funny toddler way, Rachel went over to Mom and held up her sippy cup. Mom pushed the cup aside. Rachel tried again.
“Don’t bother me!” snapped Mom, shoving the little girl away.
Rachel yowled. Maddie jumped up and pulled her into the kitchen. After filling her bottle, she took Rachel to the bedroom, changed her clothes, and put her to bed.
Feeling as though a giant hand twisted her insides, Maddie crept into her own bed. For a long time she lay there, afraid to fall asleep. Eyes full of tears, Maddie wondered as she had a hundred times, What did I do wrong? Where are you, God? I’m so scared.
The next day, as Maddie was returning home from school, she heard Rachel crying from the sidewalk. Bounding up the porch steps, Maddie tried to open the front door. It was locked. Peering in the window, Maddie saw Mom sprawled on the sofa, sound asleep. A bottle lay on the floor beside her.
Maddie felt sick. She ran around the house to the backyard and saw Rachel’s playpen in full sunlight.
When Rachel saw Maddie, the little girl held up her arms and whimpered. Maddie picked her up and hugged her. When she saw Rachel’s sunburned arms and face, Maddie broke into sobs. Oh, God, what should I do? This time her cry for help was a prayer.
In that moment she remembered Pastor Evenson at church.
Could I talk to him? Maddie wondered.
Staggering under Rachel’s weight, Maddie stood up and started walking to church.
If you have hard things in your life, Jesus understands when you hurt. He wants you to ask him for help. He wants to heal you. But you also need to talk with people you trust.
More to Explore: John 14:1
Girl Talk: Are you facing tough situations in your life that require backup?
God Talk: “Thank you, Lord, for caring about what happens to me. If I’m ever in trouble, remind me that I can always ask you for help. Help me to also talk to the right grown-up. Amen.”
From Girl Talk by Lois Walfrid Johnson