The Palm of His Hand
By Brother Kevin Hastings
Sudden death, the loss of a job, a health diagnosis, disagreements with co-workers, stress over how ends will meet, or any number of things may come into our life on any given day to throw challenges into our path. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Because we know Christ, we are people who “dwell in the shelter of the Most High,” and we have no need to worry about tomorrow.
The blessings, the reassurances, and the comforts the Psalmist provides in Psalm 91are for those of us who dwell in that shelter. They are amazing. We get to rest in his shadow according to verse 1. Rest…who doesn’t enjoy a little rest? Verse 2 tells us He is our refuge – our place of protection or shelter – and that shelter is found under the feathers of His protective wings – in the times of distress or concern. I am prone to worry. What a blessing to know our Lord is there to shelter us from the storms that come into our lives, be they quick little thunderstorms or category 5 tornadoes, just like a momma bird shelters her young under her wings.
While focusing on Psalm 91, Psalm 100 reminds us that His faithfulness endures through all generations. That faithfulness, Psalm 91 tells us, is our shield, our rampart – defined as an outer defensive wall – against the arrows that fly by day and the deadly pestilence that stalks at night, and the plague that destroys at midday. We all live on this earth. We all have our own arrows, the sin that stalks us at night varies from person to person, but His shield always protects us.
Are your challenges or problems different than anyone else has ever dealt with? You think no one can understand what you are going through? Psalm 91, verses 11 and 12 have that covered… “He will command his angels to guard you in all of your ways. They will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” I really like the phrasing Michael Joncas used in the refrain of his song based on Psalm 91. “For He will raise you up on eagles’ wings; Bear you on the breath of dawn; Make you to shine like the sun; And hold you in the palm of His hands.” Remember, when we think about our day, when the stresses of this life seem to overwhelm, we find refuge under his wings, as he promises in verse 15 to be with us when we call on Him. He will not only be with us in trouble, but He will deliver us from it, all the while, as Joncas writes in his song, while holding us in the palm of His hand.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, when the storms of this life come, when the arrows fly, when many seem to fall to the pressures of the Devil around us, when trouble comes into our lives, help us to call on you. As those who dwell in you, thank you for your promises to deliver us. Your promise to save us from the fowler’s snare, to cover us under your wing, and to save us by holding us in the palm of your hand so that we don’t strike our foot against any stone the world and the devil places in our path. Thank you for delivering us from all the world’s challenges and on that last day, showing us our salvation. In your name. Amen.