Bible Reading: Matthew 7:24-27

"I don't want you to move out," Jenna said with a cry as she gave her big sister another hug. "This is my last year of elementary school. How can I face it without you here?"

Melanie eased back and knelt down on the driveway. She wiped a tear away from Jenna's eyes and took her sister's hands in hers. "Jenna, you knew this was coming. I can't stay at home forever."

"Why not? You don't have to move away to college, do you? Too much is changing." Jenna couldn't hold back another sob from slipping out.

Melanie thought a moment, and then she reached into the nearby grass, took a large stone, and dropped it into her little sister's hand. "Here. After I leave, I want you to display this on your dresser."

"What? Why?"

"Remember when that tornado came through here? It wasn't a big one, but it was still powerful enough to rip apart buildings that weren't strong enough to handle the winds. But buildings that were built on a strong foundation stood firm and didn't get swept away."

"What does this stone have to do with the tornado?" Jenna looked down curiously at the rock.

"I want it to serve as your reminder. Life will always bring new winds of change. But as long as we remain firm on the foundation of our faith in Jesus, those tornadoes of change may rattle us, but they don't have the power to sweep away our place of refuge in Him. He's our Rock."

Jenna's bottom lip quivered. "But I'm still going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too. But let Jesus be the source of your security, okay?"

Jenna nodded as a powerful breeze toyed with her ponytail. She clasped the stone in her hand. "Jesus isn't going to leave me too, is He?"

Melanie smoothed a hand over her sister's hair. "Of course not. He will never abandon those who trust in Him. He will always be with you and give you the rock-solid stability you need to stay steadfast during winds of change. I promise."

"In that case, I'm going to trust Him for as long as I live." Jenna grinned and gave her sister one last hug.

-Tessa Emily Hall

How About You?
What kind of changes have you experienced as you've grown older? Maybe you've started a new school or, like Jenna, have had a sibling move out. Life will always present new changes, but if you know Jesus as your Savior, He is your rock-solid foundation that will never change. Your eternal security is in Him, and you can trust Him to be with you through all of life's changes.

Today's Key Verse:
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (NKJV) (Psalm 18:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus is our rock-solid foundation