Psalm 91 (CEB)

1 Living in the Most High’s shelter,

    camping in the Almighty’s shade,

2 I say to the Lord, “You are my refuge, my stronghold!

    You are my God—the one I trust!”

3 God will save you from the hunter’s trap

    and from deadly sickness.

4 God will protect you with his pinions;

    you’ll find refuge under his wings.

    His faithfulness is a protective shield.

5 Don’t be afraid of terrors at night,

    arrows that fly in daylight,

6     or sickness that prowls in the dark,

    destruction that ravages at noontime.

7 Even if one thousand people fall dead next to you,

    ten thousand right beside you—

    it won’t happen to you.

8 Just look with your eyes,

    and you will see the wicked punished.

9 Because you’ve made the Lord my refuge,

    the Most High, your place of residence—

10         no evil will happen to you;

        no disease will come close to your tent.

11 Because he will order his messengers to help you,

    to protect you wherever you go.

12 They will carry you with their own hands

    so you don’t bruise your foot on a stone.

13 You’ll march on top of lions and vipers;

    you’ll trample young lions and serpents underfoot.

14 God says, “Because you are devoted to me,

    I’ll rescue you.

    I’ll protect you because you know my name.

15 Whenever you cry out to me, I’ll answer.

    I’ll be with you in troubling times.

    I’ll save you and glorify you.

16     I’ll fill you full with old age.

    I’ll show you my salvation.” 

Reflection:
I always love verses that quiet the soul. It is so easy to get lost in the earthly necessities of preparation, requirements, and worry. However, it is altogether more important to find solace in our faith. When I find it hard to cope, these verses help bring me to a more centered state and remember that my God is always there when I cry out for him. He knows I need him even before I do. During moments of worry, God has offered us up the perfect time to “say to the Lord, ‘You are my refuge, my stronghold! You are my God – the one I trust!’” – Psalm 91:2

The Israelites constantly needed messages like this—not because they experienced generalized anxiety, but because they were a nation vulnerable to the abuses of foreign powers that sought to dominate them. Safety was not a guarantee. God was not just a provider of mental or emotional comfort. God was their literal fortress who had a history of saving his people from dire circumstances. Trusting in God was Israel’s lifeline. 

As we face circumstances of doubt and uncertainty, we need to lean into him. Only he can wrap us in a loving embrace that truly feels never-ending and reminds us that we are deeply, deeply loved and cared for. Our national, state, and city leaders can only offer us a certain amount of fleeting solace. God knows all, but it’s not just about God’s knowledge. Just as God showed up in Israel’s history by freeing them from oppression and making a covenant with them, God showed up in our history by becoming human, and God shows up every day within us through the Holy Spirit. When we cry out in frustration to God, we can take comfort in knowing that we cry out to a trustworthy God who has a reputation for leading us out of trepidation and into peace.

Closing Prayer:
Oh God, may we learn to hold this trust in you more intimately in our souls. As we walk through the uncertainties of everyday life, and especially those of crises, let us remember that you are our valiant protector. We know your name, we cry out to you, and we graciously accept your salvation. Let this knowledge bless us with peaceful hearts as we walk through these earthly troubles. Amen.