I’m going to share something that I wrote for my kids in a still-unfinished devotional that has been a work in process for a year or two:
A young person stands on the ledge of a tall building. Despair etches their face as they peer over the ledge. Before they can make a move, they hear a voice: “Your doctor really did get held up, Regan. It’s never as bad as it seems.”
Regan turns around and sees the Superman, more powerful than a locomotive, standing there. And the Man of Steel tells this overwhelmed kid, “You’re much stronger than you think you are. Trust me.” Then Superman pulls Regan into a hug.
Grant Morrison (words)/Frank Quitely (image)
That might be the greatest four panels in comic book history. It is certainly the best encapsulation of Superman as a character. It is true that he can leap tall buildings in a single bound and bullets bounce off of his chest. Yet this scene is what makes Superman who he is. A moment to stop and give hope to a hopeless person about to give up.
But enough about Superman. Let’s talk about Regan, which means let’s talk about us. We have all been where they were. Hopefully not literally on the ledge of a building ready to give up. But we have those moments where we believe that we are worthless. We screw up. We feel like we can’t do anything right. We hurt those we love. Maybe we feel unloved. We have those moments where we feel stupid, uncool, ugly, unvalued, weak, whatever. I know that I have felt that.
So let me repeat what was said: You are much stronger than you think you are.
You have more value than you could possibly imagine. You are made in the image of God and this world needs you. You can bring things to this world that no one else can. You are much stronger than you think you are.Never, ever forget that.
Yet how can we feel strong when we feel alone? Fortunately we are not alone. In the Book of Joshua, the titular character looks out on a people who have lost their leader Moses. They are uncertain whether they can go on. Joshua reminds them that the God who was with Moses is also with them. They can be strong and have courage for the Lord their God is with them. And the Lord your God is with you.