The world is especially quiet this morning. A beautiful blanket of sparkly snow covers everything outside, which means it is a snow day. Schools have been cancelled and it seems as if the world is sleeping in. There are no cars passing by. All is quiet. The snow is so beautiful, so peaceful, so quiet. Yet with the beauty of this snow comes a fear and the reality of dangerous road conditions and extreme cold temperatures.
I am reminded this morning that life is very much like a fresh snow fall. It is absolutely beautiful and full of the potential for fun, but it also comes with its fears. Just like driving on an icy surface, there is fear of that feeling of being out of control – when life is happening to you and, no matter which way you turn the steering wheel, your life seems to be spinning the wrong direction.
It is in these moments that we turn our eyes to the Lord. We cry out for His help and we place our family and our life in His hands.
I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. – Psalm 121
What a wonderful God we serve! I love this picture of God watching over me, providing a protective shade. What if He did sleep? What if He did not watch over us protectively? As a mother, I can drive myself crazy in a matter of a few minutes if I let my mind go to the “what if’s” in life. I consciously let myself rest and stop my mind from considering the “what if’s”. It is better for me to relax in the reality that I serve a God I can count on – a God I can trust.
What if the Lord had not been on our side?
Let all Israel repeat:
What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?
They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.
Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
The trap is broken, and we are free!
Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 124
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! – Psalm 126:3
From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.
Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you.
I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
I long for the Lord; yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in the Lord.
I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn.
O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin. – Psalm 130