Abide with me

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me ...I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you... I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."(excerpts from John 14-15).

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As I was soaking in these Scriptures this morning, I began to wrestle with the concept of abiding. The term ABIDE means "to stay, to stand, to endure, to reside, to dwell, to remain, to bear." Immediately, as I reflect on the the realities of the Father abiding in me, and I in the Father, I cannot but help and think about my own pain and brokenness (ie. absent father, broken relationships, and other themes of abandonment). Is it really true? The Lord abides with me? "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you..." What would it look like for God to stand with me? To endure with me? To bear all things with me? And for me to stay with Him? To reside with Him? To remain in Him? And to abide in His love? 

Today, it struck me as I was at the hospital visiting my sick grandma, Lela. What she asks of me is simply to "abide" with her -- to stay, to endure, to remain, to bear her pain and be with her. There is nothing in me that can heal her, but there is power in simply abiding. A ministry of presence. Because we love each other, we don't necessarily need words to communicate our love. Holding her hand, exchanging glances and smiles, and reminding her that I'm there is enough. 

As I think about God the Father and His promise to abide in me, I am comforted. He will never leave me or abandon me in my pain. I am in a season where I have never been more challenged to stand firm in my faith. I have had my faith pruned and plucked and squeezed and stretched. I've lost so much. All the while trying to be faithful to God. His pruning of our faith does not always feel very loving; and at times, it can feel very lonely, and I come out kicking and moaning. But God abides with me in it. He doesn't prune us then leave us. He doesn't abandon us in it. His love endures.

In the same simple ways my grandma asks me to "abide" with her, God asks the same of me. Be with me. Stand with me. Endure with me. Remain in me. And it is by being in His presence that I am healed. That I am able to receive love. That I am able to love. That I am able to receive the fullness of joy. And ultimately bear fruit that brings God glory. 

As yesterday's pain and tomorrow's worries threaten to rob me of my joy, I am challenged today to simply abide. To be present to the moment. To take in all the love that God has for me today. To rest and know that He is God.

Psalm 139:18, "I awake, and I am still with you."