For Today and Tomorrow | Psalm 121
by Elouise
The last several weeks have been a roller coaster ride. Up one day, down the next. Hot/cold. Content/discontent. Causes known and unknown such as unresolved health issues, political moves of the unhelpful kind, war and destruction, plus the sinking feeling we’re stuck in old patterns that leave the future of this planet in the hands of the next generation.
This morning D and I went for a walk. The air was warm, humid, and heavy with the sound of cicadas. Just drawing a breath felt like the beginning of the end. As we were walking home, the words of Psalm 121 popped into my head. It’s one of several Psalms I memorized as a child. That would be in the King James Version, of course!
Here it is, slightly updated by me. The Psalm invites me to do something besides ruminating on how I feel or what I think about what’s happening in and all around me.
I lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help.
My help comes from You, the Holy One who made heaven and earth.
You will not suffer my foot to be moved; You keep me without drifting off to sleep.
Indeed, You who keep all creation shall neither slumber nor sleep.
You are my keeper; You are the shade upon my right hand.
The sun shall not smite me by day, nor the moon by night.
You will preserve me from all evil; You alone shall preserve my soul.
You will preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore.
No promise of rose gardens, or an easy coast from this life to whatever comes next. Instead, I’m reminded that I owe my full allegiance to our Creator, and that whatever comes next, I won’t be abandoned.
Good words for a mixed-up world full of anxious people everywhere. Including me.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 10 August 2021
Photo of hills in Judea taken by David Shankbone; found at wikipedia.com
Telling the Truth 
Timely words for me to hear today. I just had my pre-surgical interview. I’m exhausted. Looks like it will be a 3-4 day hospital stay and then skilled nursing 1-10 weeks. Ugh. Cupcake already understands. She’s “glued” to my lap ‘n arms. Thank you for sharing.
Shalom, Lorraine
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I can’t say I “like” your news. I do, however, applaud you for leaving this comment, and with it, a bit of yourself. Tell Cupcake I’m praying for her, too. Keep looking up. Easier said, I’m sure, than done. 🎶
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I don’t know you, but I will pray for you.
(((HUGS))), too.
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Yes, yes, yes, perfect words since the beginning of time till He comes to get us.
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Thank you, Betty. These are strange times, indeed.
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We understand. We care. We’re on the ride, too. Been very roller-y. 🎢
‘Twould be nice to ride a slower calmer ride…maybe a 🎡 Ferris Wheel. 🙂
Thank you for sharing those encouraging scriptures, SweetElouise. Great words for all peoples!
(((HUGS)))
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Thanks for this comment, Carolyn. I’m definitely in the roller-y mode these days. Not just because of what’s happening in the world (which is more than bad enough), but because of some unresolved health issues. A ferris wheel would be most welcome right now–especially that grand view it gives you as you come over the top! 🙂
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❤ and continued prayers
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A good psalm. My 2 favorites are psalms 23 and 139. What I always read and heard about in church circles was about God’s provisions for physical health, preservation from harm, or even from death. But what I saw in the lives of other Christians was often the exact opposite. I started thinking the translation of the Bible got messed up, or the translators were free to interpret how they saw fit. But whatever the case, reality didn’t mesh with what was written. Some people like my mom would say it’s a faith issue, meaning if someone gets ill or dies prematurely it’s bc they either did something wrong or didn’t have faith. And that could be true, but it’s only recently (the past year) that I’ve come to understand those particular scriptures (that mention health, life, and safety), are actually referring to a future time. The one when Death will be destroyed at last.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, KS. Yes, it’s tragic when we try to connect these Psalms (and others) to individuals. As I see it, we’re meant to be both challenged and comforted by them as we go through life and death. Yes, a time is coming when our ‘last enemy’ will be destroyed, though I don’t know what that will look like. I’m grateful we haven’t been hung out to dry or left without hope or comfort in this life. Churches I grew up in (most were small and very conservative) sometimes judged people falsely–blaming them (in effect) for whatever unfortunate situation they found themselves in. Supposedly they didn’t have enough faith, or they wouldn’t be suffering so much. This isn’t difficult to do, given our human foolishness. The reality is much more complex than we think–especially when we begin to realize and unpack the baggage of our own families, for example.
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Yes, absolutely. It always reminds me of the Jews in Jesus’ day and his own disciples asking him who sinned, the blind man or his parents, and thus the reason for his disability. But Jesus blew them away with his answer.
My mom keeps trying to justify why my dad died instead of being healed of the cancer. She thinks he wasn’t holy enough, (why my dad got sick), and he didn’t get healed was a faith issue. But I don’t think so. I don’t know why some ppl get healed while others don’t, but I do know this, my dad was in his 70s, and had fought the good fight. Was he perfect? No, but only One person, who walked in our shoes, can claim that. And I know my dad was tired. He said it many times, and I don’t think he was simply referring to his physical body.
But my whole point in bringing up any of this at all is that it does comfort me, when I look at in the scheme of eternity, we will be healthy, we will NOT die. Every hair on our heads will be protected, and all tears will be wiped away.
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