"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Psalm 121 - February 9, 2023

"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Psalm 121 - February 9, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PSA.121.NIV

 . Psalm 121:1-8, I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Facing Adversity and Challenges – Today’s Psalm is one of the Psalms of Ascent. These were sung by the Jewish pilgrims who would travel to Jerusalem for the annual festivals. Reread the words of this Psalm. We can all imagine the importance of protection as they made the trek to Jerusalem. There was always the possibility of wild animals and wild people getting in the way.

As you read this, notice how the author moves from the immediate preoccupation with safety on the journey to the need for safety and protection for all of our existence. Where does this protection come from? Well, only from God of course. Think about all the ways we seek safety and protection today. We seek financial safety and security. We seek physical safety and security. But how often do we reflect on our spiritual safety and security?

Furthermore, how often do we recognize that so much of our safety is out of our own control? How much easier life is when we acknowledge that we are in God’s hands. We can do our best to insulate ourselves from difficulty and pain, from physical attack or financial ruin (and that’s perfectively fine). We live in a broken world with natural disasters, volatile stock markets, and dangerous people. However, in the end, we are in God’s hands. We are totally and completely in God’s hands. Do you believe that? 

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We are in your hands. I submit my whole life to you, Lord. I know that my help, my security, and my eternal protection comes from you and you alone. In Your Name, Amen. .

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