Without

I’m going to confess something: I have flight issues. Not the cancel-your-trip kind—the white-knuckling-the-armrest kind! My flying debut? Solo with an 18-month-old while heading to Germany to join my military husband. Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a scene from a travel commercial.

For years afterward, I wouldn’t board a plane without clutching my husband’s arm like it was the last flotation device on the Titanic. I’ve gradually improved, but there was a time when “without him” and “flying” were two phrases that didn’t belong in the same sentence.

We all have our non-negotiable “withouts,” don’t we? Some people can’t function without their morning coffee. Others won’t leave home without checking their horoscope. Some folks would rather skip dinner entirely than eat at a restaurant solo. And don’t get me started on the people who bring their emotional support peacocks everywhere because they can’t be “without” them!

But all these everyday “withouts” recently reminded me of a powerful biblical example. In Exodus 33, Moses essentially tells God, “If you’re not coming with us, I’m not going.” This wasn’t after a minor disagreement—this was right after the Israelites had crafted themselves a golden calf to worship! Yet Moses understood something profound: moving forward without God’s presence wasn’t just undesirable—it was unthinkable.

Moses recognized that it was God who had orchestrated their freedom from Egypt. It was God who had sustained them through the wilderness. And it would be God alone who could bring them successfully into the Promised Land. Without divine presence, even the promise of milk and honey wasn’t enough.

As I’ve grown in my faith journey, this truth has become clear: I don’t want to embark on any path that separates me from God’s presence. Whether it’s a career move, a relationship, or even something as simple as how I spend my time—being without Him is too high a price.

This Easter weekend carries special significance. We celebrate the ultimate gift—Christ giving His life so we would never have to be without Him. His death, burial, and resurrection tore the temple veil and opened permanent access to God’s presence. As you worship this weekend, remember that the empty tomb means we never have to face life’s journey alone.

This prompt was written with a group of writers called Five-Minute Friday.