We get excited around here about particular things. The grand babies coming to visit; a good meal shared; the Amazon delivery truck (I bet you’ll say the same); God’s stunning hand-painted sunsets over the farmer’s field; and for my mother-in-law, seeing our neighborhood doe and two fawns makes her day complete.

When I wrote this post in July 2024, my mother-in-law (mom) saw the doe jog cross the field, bound up the hill, and leave her two fawns. One fawn was alone in the corner of the field across the road. We could catch a patch of brown just at the edge of the woods. The second fawn went off alone. Had they been scared? Separated by accident?

For an entire day mom watched the field. The fawn refused to move from the field. Evening shadows came and still the fawn waited alone, nudging her nose out now and then testing the wind. We very much wanted her trust rewarded with mama doe’s return.

What if the doe was hurt, or had abandoned the fawn? She had proven herself as a good mama, capable, trustworthy. But gone for an entire day? The little fawn stayed in her place. She rested, watched, and waited on the edge of an unknown.

The next morning my husband saw the fawns with mama doe together in the field. When we told mom, she said, “Yes, I watched for an hour last evening until it was dark. Just when I had given up, the doe returned. They are all okay!”

Have you ever questioned what you may know about God’s great goodness and character? Or maybe you’ve seen him work miraculously on your behalf before, but dare to wonder if he’ll choose to come through again they way you hope? Does he even know where you are?

If you’re standing on the edge of a lonely place watching for safety and sunrise, wait:

1) Stay grounded in God’s love for you. He has not abandoned you. He knows exactly where to find you.

2) God’s character does not change even when our circumstances may shift.

3) How we feel in distress is often not the true reality of our situation. Our emotions can deceive our minds and draw us from focusing on truth. God’s promises are true. Read them, pray them, dwell on them, rest in them. He will meet you where you wait.

Verses to consider:

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:25-26

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7

“But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.” Hosea 12:6

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

“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.” Isaiah 41:10

Sharon's note: This post was written when I found out I would need surgery in August 2024 for a 10 cm ovarian cyst and "something else that could be a return of cancer". It turned out to be scar tissue, thankfully. I've been no evidence of disease (NED) since 2013, but I can still deal with scanxiety. This journey in 2024 turned out fine but it definitely had me feel a bit of cancer treatment PTSD. Maybe you can relate?