God’s Tender Care - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2025

Bible in a Year : Proverbs 19-21, 2 Corinthians 7

He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.
Isaiah 40:11

Today's Scripture & Insight : Isaiah 40:10-11, 29-31

Sitting in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, I visited a mother as her newborn baby cuddled up against her chest. In this technologically advanced medical facility, the doctors had recommended a very low-tech ‘prescription’ to improve and strengthen the child’s health—the new mum was to spend extended periods of time simply holding her daughter.

There’s almost nothing like the overwhelming love and tender compassion of a parent to provide healing comfort for a child. We see this powerful imagery in the prophet Isaiah’s description of God with His people.

Even after prophesying impending exile for the nation of Israel because they’d rejected God (Isaiah 39:5-7), Isaiah emphasised to the people that God still loved them and would always provide for them. God’s tender compassion and secure care is evident in the beautiful metaphor where He is described as a shepherd who, much like a loving father, gathers His sheep “in his arms and carries them close to his heart” (40:11).

God’s presence grants us peace and protection and reminds us that He carries us close to His heart, like a newborn baby with its mother. As He “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (v. 29), the Spirit’s healing comfort allows us to meet the challenges of each day.

By: Lisa M. Samra

Reflect & Pray
What comes to mind when you think about the love of a mother for her newborn baby? How has God’s protective and loving care strengthened you?

Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You hold me close to Your heart.