God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

-John 3:16 (NRSV)

WHILE deployed with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, I was running early one morning and fell hard on my side, scraping my knees and hands in the process. The shower had only cold water to salve my wounds. I wasn't feeling too great as I started my daily reading of The Upper Room before heading to work. The date was July 15, 2002, and the title was "Mashed Toes and Scraped Knees."

My pain seemed to subside a bit as I smiled in the realization that God knows precisely when and how to reach out and comfort me. As I reflected on this message in the Afghan heat and dust, I felt especially close to God who had foreseen my pain and provided relief before I knew I even needed it. There is little doubt that I will fall again some day, either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. I rest assured, though, that God will be there to comfort me.

So it is with God's love. Even before I recognized God's presence in my life, God loved me and provided for me. I rest assured of salvation because God sent Jesus Christ at just the right time and place to be my personal Savior.