Read (from the New Living Translation)

¹ I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
² My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

³ He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
⁴ Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.

⁵ The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.

⁷ The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
⁸ The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

Psalm 121

Go Deep

Today, Bekah from The Wally Show writes from the heart about walking with her husband Joey through suffering this year.

Back in April, my husband became unexpectedly ill. He went from needing a routine procedure to clear a gallstone, to a terrible case of pancreatitis, to sepsis, to the beginning stages of organ failure—all in the matter of a few hours. Meanwhile, I was half a world away in Rwanda with a poor internet connection. Every spotty update was more bad news, and suddenly life hit me hard in the face and presented me with the fear of becoming a widow at the age of 25.

The next few weeks were especially rough. When I finally arrived, he was in the ICU and in an immense amount of pain. For the next 16 days, we faced sleepless nights, setbacks, and uncertainty as doctors tried to figure out what was going on with his body.

But there was something surprising in those 2 weeks that I never saw coming: an immense amount of peace. I know there were dozens of people praying for him, and I felt it every day in that hospital room. Life had thrown us the worst curveball, but I knew that my God was bigger than all of it: no matter what the outcome may be.

These verses in Psalm 121 ran through my head during those long days in the hospital. Knowing there’s a God that provides help and rest and peace in my worst moments allowed me to exhale all of the anxiety and stress I was holding in.

Not every moment since has been perfect peace. There are so many times where I get re-absorbed in the drama of life: whether it’s illness, or insomnia, or broken windshields….

But something incredible still happens when I take just a moment to pause and remember where my help comes from and the God who watches over me even as I sleep. He’s the same God who saw me through the absolute worst days of my life and continues to watch over me without ever taking a break.

Notes from the Beyond Suffering Bible

God’s Watchful Care – As valuable as spouses, parents, friends, and pastors are in the lives of those faced with disability and suffering, none can compare with God, who watches over and cares for us day and night. He never slumbers or sleeps! No matter your condition—even when unconscious due to seizures, surgeries, or much-needed medications—the Maker of heaven and earth “stands beside you as your protective shade” (121:5). You can sing with the psalmist, “My help comes from the Lord” (121:2).

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