The Moon is Always Round

 

For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

~Psalm 100:5 ESV

I remember my sister-in-law quoting a nursery rhyme. 

I see the moon.

The moon sees me.

God bless the moon. 

And God bless me. 

Have you ever wondered why and there was just no answer? 

Someone recommended a children's book to me, The Moon is Always Round, by Jonathan Gibson.  There were several things I liked about this book. It's an easily read children's book, but with lots of deeper meaning. 

• The dad is the spiritual leader of the home even before tragedy.
• God's truths are taught from the scripture and the Creation
• Adults don't have all the answers
• God is loving and faithful in all circumstances.

I feel having the dad as the spiritual leader in this book gives dads the honor and respect God has given them as the head of the home. He protects his wife and gives her space to grieve while he takes on the responsibility of attending to his son's questions.

The analogy of the moon as a continual presence, to God as always a continual presence, gives a child and us as adults something tangible to help us remember God's love and presence. We see the moon in many phases and at times - invisible, but the moon is always there and always round. Sometimes we see God full on in a situation. Sometimes we feel like God is hard to see. And sometimes we can't see God at all. But God is always there and He knows our circumstances, our needs, and our heartaches even when we can't see Him working. 

Often children and others ask Christians why. Why did this happen? What have I done to deserve this? 

Even Christians don't have those answers. We have to look to scriptures for others who have gone through similar circumstances and see how God worked. Job, a just man, lost all his wealth and more importantly all his children. He hadn't done anything to cause the circumstance. 

God allowed Satan to try Job to demonstrate God's faithfulness and Job's trust in God.

Abraham and Sarah had no children. Neither did Zechariah and Elizabeth. God used Abraham and Sarah to create a nation. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the parents of John the Baptist. 

We may not always understand God's purposes, but we must trust he is loving and faithful in every circumstance, just as the moon is always round in every phase. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us trust you in every circumstance. Help us know that you never want to harm us but to allow us to demonstrate your love and faithfulness to others. May we trust you as Job, and Abraham, Sarah, Zechariah and Elisabeth. May we never lose sight of your love and care. In Jesus' name. Amen.