1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:1-8 NIV).

Often called “The Traveler’s Psalm,” Psalm 121 is recited by individuals or groups before going on a trip to ensure safe travel. The psalm is a favorite of mine that I read when I need God’s protection. One stormy night years ago, I woke up to the sound of a loud crash outside my apartment. I jumped out of bed to look out the window and found a large bush had fallen against the front door. When the storm grew worse, and the power went out, I knew it would be a sleepless night. So I lit a candle, opened my Bible, and read Psalm 121. As I read it out loud and applied the words to my situation, God’s peace came to my heart. On that fearful night, God kept me safe until the storm passed.

When the storm ended, I realized we never outgrow our need for God’s help and protection. It can be easy to forget how much we need our God/Protector until a tragic event or crisis happens. It is then that we realize what little control we have in life. Psalm 121:1-2 encourages us to look to God during hard times and know that our help comes from Him. Verses 3-7 say that God will watch over us and keep us from harm. Although we are not guaranteed an absence of calamity (Psalm 34:19; John 16:33), God is still faithful to protect us. From beginning to end, Psalm 121 conveys a message of trust in God, an assurance that He will protect us now and forever (v. 8).

Heavenly Father, in this troubled world of mass shootings and pandemic outbreaks, we take comfort in Psalm 121. We cherish the promises of Jesus to give us peace (John 14:27) and to be with us forever (Matthew 28:20). Whether traveling, enduring bad weather, or living through a pandemic, we are thankful for Your protection. In Jesus’ name. Amen.