“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore.”
Psalm 121:1-81<<A Song of degrees.>> I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalm 121:1‑8)
On a clear, crisp day I excitedly headed out for a distant city to help my youngest daughter set up her apartment with her new husband. The van was filled to capacity. The engine churned as I drove off with the extra weight. Could this old vehicle get me there? Looking to the Lord for His care, I pressed on.
It was a quiet, uneventful trip, but the weather was getting blustery as I drove. I stopped for gas, and as I stepped outside the wind whipped my scarf tighter around my neck. Large snowflakes were beginning to fall. I hadn’t heard about a winter storm on the radio, but then I wasn’t listening to the radio. I hadn’t even thought of checking Accuweather!
The snow continued falling at a rapid pace. Blizzard conditions! I could hardly see the road! What to do? I slowed my pace but did not want to come to a complete stop as I didn’t really know where the side of the road was. Some cars passed me as if the roads were completely clear. Now there goes an accident waiting to happen, I thought to myself. Thankfully, I could see enough to make out the taillights of a truck. I kept my gaze on those lights and forged ahead.
Thoughts swirled in my head. Do I continue going ahead? Do I turn around and head for home? But where in the world would I turn around? The storm gave way a bit and I was able to see enough to make a quick exit. I left the highway and came to a complete stop at a nearby gas station. Someone was busily shoveling snow and I asked them how much was predicted. “Oh, at least 10 inches!” That’s when I decided I would head for home, but before turning around I called my daughter.
I let her know that I was going to turn around and head for home. She was quite surprised, and she kept saying, “Mom, it’s clear here. The sun is shining.” No, she hadn’t heard of any storm. “Mom, it’s beautiful here.” I then called my husband who was in a meeting, but thankfully he took my call and checked the weather on the internet. No, it wasn’t snowing back at home. Yes, he could see a patch on the radar, and since I had already driven for 3 hours he suggested that I continue on my trip and hopefully drive out of the patch! I called my daughter back to let her know that I was indeed coming as planned. “Just keep praying for your old mom!” I pleaded.
Even though the snow was still swirling around me, I took a deep breath, clutched the steering wheel, and headed north. I had been told that it was simply a patch and that the sun was indeed shining, even though evidence around me belied that. Then all of a sudden, the sun came out and the road became clear! It cleared up almost as fast as it had begun. I had come so close to turning back! I almost missed out on a happy reunion with my daughter and her husband, of sharing in their joy of setting up their first home, and of getting a glimpse into her new life. Now, whenever I speak with her on the phone I can visualize where she is and what she’s doing. If I had turned back I would have lost that opportunity.
Is that how we are in our Christian lives? When it gets hard to see, do we turn around and go back to our comfort zones and then miss out on the joy of seeing God at work? Do we get scared? Do we question God’s providential care? Do we question our ability to know God’s will in our lives? Are we always second guessing? “If thou wouldst believe,” the Lord Jesus says, “thou shouldst see the glory of God” (John 11:4040Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (John 11:40)). Do we have confidence in His Word to believe that the “sun” is indeed shining, encouraging us to move forward, not giving up, knowing that there will be joy on the other side (Psa. 30:55For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5))? “The Lord God is a sun” (Psa. 84:1111For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)). He knows the way that we take (Job 23:1010But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)). Do we with renewed peace and trust press forward even though discouraging circumstances swirl around us?
Overcoming is going through a difficulty with confidence in God. Does your difficulty appear big? Bring God into the picture. Trust Him to see you through. Remember the “Sun” is shining on the other side!