January 31
Always
Before Me
"I know that the Lord is always with me. He is at my right hand. I will always be secure. So my heart is glad. Joy is on my tongue. My body also will be secure."
Psalm 16:8-9 (NIrV)
Katie leaned back in the recliner, the rhythmic hum of the chemo machine filling the room. The infusion center was bright but sterile, a place where patients like her spent hours battling an unseen enemy. Yet, Katie’s laughter filled the space like a melody.
“How are you always smiling?” a nurse asked as she adjusted Katie’s IV. “Most people would be upset or scared, but you’re… glowing.”
Katie smiled and shrugged. “I have my moments,” she admitted. “But I know God’s got me.”
It wasn’t always like this. When Katie first got her diagnosis, the fear was overwhelming. She cried for days, unable to see beyond the word “cancer.” She questioned everything. Why me? How am I supposed to face this?
One night, unable to sleep, Katie reached for her Bible. Her hands trembled as she opened it randomly. Her eyes fell on Psalm 16: “I know that the Lord is always with me. He is at my right hand. I will always be secure.”
The words felt like a warm embrace. Katie let the verse sink in, repeating it aloud. “God is here. He’s with me,” she whispered through tears. For the first time since her diagnosis, she felt peace—not because her circumstances had changed, but because she knew she wasn’t facing them alone.
In the weeks that followed, Katie clung to that verse. Each treatment brought its challenges—nausea, fatigue, and moments of doubt. But in those moments, she prayed, asking God to stay close. And He did. She felt His presence in the kindness of strangers, the gentle encouragement of her husband, and the beauty of sunrises she never used to notice.
Katie’s laughter wasn’t about pretending everything was fine; it was a reflection of the joy she found in knowing God was with her. Even in the hardest moments, she knew her heart was secure in Him.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being with us in every moment, especially in the storms of life.
Like Katie, we face challenges that test our strength and faith.
Help us to remember that You are always at our side, giving us peace and joy even when the road is hard.
Fill our hearts with the security that comes from Your presence, and teach us to lean on You every step of the way.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
