Day 26 — I Will Not Leave You

“And Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.’ But Elisha replied, ‘As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel.”

— 2 Kings 2:2 (BSB)

Years went by. Elisha kept following and serving Elijah. And then came the day when God was going to take Elijah up to heaven.

Everyone seemed to know it was coming. And three times, Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here. I have to go on.” Maybe he was testing him. Maybe he wanted to spare him the goodbye.

But three times, Elisha gave the same answer: “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”

Elisha was loyal. He wasn’t going to let his mentor walk his last road alone. And he didn’t want to miss a single moment of learning from him.

Sometimes, as guys get older, they start to pull away from the older people in their lives. They might think they know it all. They’d rather hang out with friends than with their dad or grandpa. They stop listening to their parents. Some of that is normal as you grow more independent. But don’t pull away completely!

The men who love you and walk with God have so much to give you. Stick close to them, like Elisha. Keep asking questions. Keep spending time with them. Keep listening. Because one day, you’ll wish you had more time with them.

Here are some ways to stick close:

• Keep talking to your dad (or the man who fills that role for you), even when it feels awkward.
• Spend time with your grandparents and older relatives. Ask them to tell you stories.
• Stay connected at church with men who walk with God.
• Don’t pull away when things get hard. That’s when you need them most.
• Be loyal. When they need you, be there for them too.

And one more thing: if you don’t have a dad in your life, or if your dad isn’t someone who walks with God, that’s okay. God is your Father, and He can bring other good men into your life. Ask Him to. Ask your mom, your church or a trusted adult to help you find one.

Think about it: Is there an older man in your life you’ve been pulling away from? What could you do to stay close?

Try this: Spend some one-on-one time with your dad, grandpa or another older man this week. Ask him to tell you a story from when he was your age.

Dear God, like Elisha, help me stick close to the men who love me and walk with You. Help me not to pull away, but to keep listening and learning. And thank You that You are my Father, always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.