Tuesday, December 4, 2012



I listened to the governor of New Jersey on the news one morning addressing the then coming storm called Sandy.
 He  recognized that with all schools being closed, children would be listening to the TV.  So he addressed them directly.   He told them that they didn't need to be afraid, that their parents were with them or their caregivers.  The adults were in control of what needed to be done  to take care of things and the children would be safe and protected.

I thought about the children, that they would be calmed with the assurance that they could trust in the fact that the people who loved them would make sure they were safe.   They could rely on the wisdom and resources of adults making necessary provisions for their well being and protection.

But, much as I wanted the children to feel safe, I thought about how limited the care of the adults really was.  They too were  very vulnerable in the face of a terrible storm that was flooding streets, felling trees and breaking heavy branches, causing  traffic to come to a standstill , closing schools, airports, bridges and shutting off  electrical power, leaving millions of people to cope without it.  

Was the children's trust in parents misplaced ?  No, not in the sense that parents would do all that was in their power to protect and care for their families.    But, the problem is that their power is limited.  They can protect only so far ...  cope with the storm only as far as their resources and ability allowed.  They too are vulnerable - the only difference lies in the degree.

We as the children of our heavenly Father are also told not to worry, not to be afraid, that He will take care of us, keep us from all alarm.    Is the power of our Father limited ?  No.  His resources? No. His willingness or ability?   No.
So, I sometimes wonder...  why is it , that children so naturally and easily trust their 'imperfect' parents implicitly,  while we hold back and tremble even though our 'perfect' heavenly Father promises that all will be well.  

I love Psalm 121 .... I recently memorized it, it is such a wonderful Psalm of promise when storms of nature or life threaten us and unleash their power against our 'nest'.
                I will lift up my eyes unto the hills.  From whence comes MY help ??  
MY help comes from the Lord that made heaven and earth.    
He will not suffer your foot to be moved , he that keeps you will not slumber.  
He that keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  
The Lord is your keeper.  
He is the shade on your right hand.  
The sun shall not smite you by day nor the moon by night. 
The Lord will preserve you from all evil. 
He will preserve your soul.  
The Lord will preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, 
even forever more !     

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder - my 'nest' is safe as my Father promises all will be well. Love this Psalm. It brings such peace. Another encouraging post Julie!
~cb

ellen b. said...

Great encouragement to trust the one that holds our future. Sometimes it is easier to trust someone with "skin on" as that story goes of the little boy afraid in bed...

Marg said...

Oh yes, just to continue to breathe in and out and know that our strength comes from God alone.
A timely reminder.

Anneliese said...

What a wonderful promise! The Lord will watch over us!

Kathy said...

Thank you Julie......His promises never fail.