Daddy is sitting at one end of the couch, Livvy is at the other.  With total abandon and total trust, Livvy propels herself into the air while screaming, “Catch me Daddy!”.  As Daddy catches her in his arms, she squeals with delight, anxious to do it again.  She will do this over and over, never doubting that Daddy will catch her.

Our Heavenly DADDY does the same, He catches us when we fall, when we leap, when life knocks us down and when we stumble.  Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

A young woman at our church whom I had never met, died this week just hours after giving birth to a healthy baby boy.  As our church family gathered today, you could sense the sadness, you knew the family and friends of this woman must be “falling” in a way.   As my husband and I sat down for the service, we soon realized we were surrounded by this woman’s family and friends.  The grief was palatable and overwhelmed us both to tears. 

As the worship team led us in the following song, I believe we all mourned for this woman’s family, her husband, her children and all of her friends.  Maybe our hearts remembered a loss we suffered, we felt we were falling.  God’s presence was unmistakable as His love caught us all as we fell.

 You Never Let Go  by Matt Redman
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You!

Catch me DADDY!?  It’s a plea, it’s a question, it’s a hope and it’s His promise.  DADDY’s hands: pierced, comforting, strong, protective, molding me, shaping me, catching me.

Unfortunately for Livvy’s Daddy, after about 20 minutes of their game, his arms get tired.
Fortunately for all of us, our DADDY never tires, He never grows weary, He is always ready to catch us.  There are times He allows us to fall for our own good, but He is still right there to pick us up, clean us with His Son’s blood, heal our “boo-boos” and set us back on the right path.

So, even though we fall, even though we hurt, there will be an end to these troubles.  In the meantime, let your DADDY catch you, comfort you and set your straight again.  Fall to your knees, let your burdens be His and feel the strength of His arms.