Articles
The Lord is My Keeper
The Lord is My Keeper
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalms 121:1-2)
Few are the days in our life that we are not reminded that we are not exempt from being afflicted with the afflictions of life that are common to all men. Sometimes our hopes and dreams are crushed. There are times when disappointment and failure will be our companion. Sometimes sickness strikes our human frame bringing with it anxious moments, even sorrow and pain. Sometimes death takes someone we love dearly bringing into our life some of the deepest, bitterest pain known to man. Things happen to us that disrupt our life.
Our hearts should be filled with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord who sees and knows all about the afflictions that so often surround us (Heb. 4:13, Psalms 52:8-9, 146:1-2: Eph. 5:20; Phil. 4:6). When our heart is right with God, when we truly, sincerely are trusting in Him, there is not a time in our life that we cannot find reason to rejoice (Philippians 3:1, 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16).
We are weak, frail, imperfect human beings with limited abilities. We need and always will need mercy, help, support and direction from the Lord. Rejoice always that we can with confidence go before the throne of grace and there find mercy, help, support and direction as we travel through this world with all its troubles, strife and turmoil (Hebrews 4:16)
Psalms 121 consists of only eight verses, all of which are full of assurance that the Lord is the keeper of His people. I don’t know about you, but as for myself, that is a source of great comfort and encouragement. We serve a powerful and loving God who will never leave or forsake us and we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid (Heb. 13:5-6).
Hear the promise of the Lord made to Israel long ago, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). I, for one, believe this promise is also true for you and I today. He is the strength of our life and He will help and uphold us as we fight the temptations and afflictions of this life (Psalms 91:1-4, Psalms 121:4-5, Psalms 121:8, Romans 8:31). I love the thought expressed in one of the songs we sing that proclaims, “Be not dismayed what-e’er betide, God will take care of you; Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you. No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you; Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.”
There are so many times when we just need to stop and spend some time alone with our God. Talk to Him, look back over our life and remember how He has always been so good to us. Remember how He has blessed us with blessings untold. Praise Him for His love, goodness, mercy, kindness. longsuffering and patience. We just need to pour out to Him the feelings of our heart in full assurance that He will hear us and keep us safely in His hands.
Charles Hicks, Gallatin Tennessee
