CONNOR

Connor came home from school one afternoon and found his parents sitting at the kitchen table talking. Connor wondered why his dad was home from work so early in the day.

Connor sat down at his spot at the table. He looked into the faces of his mom and dad and knew that what he was about to hear wasn't going to be good news. Connor never saw his parents look so serious.

"Connor," his dad said, "Daddy lost his job today. I got laid off. I found a new job at another factory, but it means we have to move to Missouri."

Just two weeks later, Connor found himself riding in the family car with his mom while his dad drove the big U-Haul truck ahead of them. The truck was filled with all the things from their old house -- clothes and furniture and dishes and some of the toys that his parents allowed Connor to take with him to Missouri. It was a sad day for Connor.

It wasn't any easier for Connor when they arrived at their new home in Missouri. Connor's new home was nice enough, though it was smaller than their old house. But nothing was familiar to him. It was a different house. It was a different neighborhood. He was surrounded by different neighbors. One of the hardest things for Connor was going to a different school with a whole different group of kids.

Connor missed everything about his old home. Mostly he missed his grandparents and friends. Connor didn't know when he'd get to see any of them again . . . or IF he'd get to see any of them again. The move to Missouri was hard for Connor for he felt very much alone.

Connor tried so hard to hold all of his fears and struggles and sadness inside himself. He would cry only when he was alone in his bedroom at night. He didn't want to worry his parents. He knew they had enough to worry about themselves.

But one day, Connor could not hold it all in anymore. Connor broke down and cried while they were having supper that evening. Connor told his parents all about his struggles and all about how alone he felt. Connor's mom and dad hugged him and started crying with him. They felt so bad that they hadn't seen what Connor was going through. They felt so bad that Connor had felt he had to hold it in all that time.

When the tears ended, Connor's dad got up from the table. Minutes later he came back with a copy of the Bible. He opened the Bible to the book of Hebrews and asked Connor to read chapter 13 verse 5 aloud.

"I know this move was hard on you Connor," his mother said. "Everything is new, but you'll soon feel at home here. You'll soon make new friends. In the meantime, you must remember that you are never alone."

"That's right," said Connor's father. "Because you've trusted in Jesus as your Savior, you are never alone. God is always with you. God promises that He will never leave you or forget about you. He wants to be your best friend."

Those words - that promise from God - really encouraged Connor in the days and weeks ahead. Yes, his mom was right. He did make new friends eventually. But Connor also came to realize that God's promise was true. God was always with Connor . . . and He was Connor's very Best Friend.

Is Jesus your Best Friend? Can you claim God's promise that He is always with you? That promise is true for all those who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior. Have you done that?

The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). If you've never trusted in the Lord Jesus as Savior, you can today. A) Admit your sin to God. Ask God to forgive you for the wrong things you've done. B) Believe that Jesus died on the cross and gave His blood to pay for your sins. You must believe that with all your heart. C) Call on the Lord Jesus. Ask Him to be your Savior.