Psalm 91

14 Those who love me, I will deliver; 
I will protect those who know my name. 
15 When they call to me, I will answer them; 
I will be with them in trouble, 
I will rescue them and honor them. 
 
When I was a kid, my dad took our family off on a back road trip in the family van to enjoy a day in the wilderness. We traveled on some very sketchy roads, out into the middle of nowhere. It was an amazing adventure. On the way back from our trip our van got stuck as my dad crossed a creek that had been running across this old dirt road and had washed much of it away. I remember my dad out in the creek, up to his knees in water, pushing and pushing while my mom tried to run the engine to get us out. It was not to be and I remember the spike of fear and anxiety I had when I was told we were spending the night in the van, in a creek, in the middle of the wilderness.  
 
There five of us kids all under the age of 9 stuck in that van. It was not a pleasant situation. I’d like to say we pulled it together and handled it well, we did not. But, my mom and dad were amazing! They each took a few kids and settled us down. They told us how they had it all under control and that we could go to sleep, that they would stay up and watch out for us. I loved the feeling of giving over my fear and worry to my mom and dad. I drifted off to sleep with very little care.  
 
This psalm reminds me of that event and the very feelings I experienced in that moment. The peace I found in being able to let go and trust my mom and dad. I heard a quote recently that said something to the effect that, “we want to know what is going to happen so that we don’t have to trust God.” There is a reason that God says we should have the faith of a child. Children trust, despite the evidence that seems to be mounting not to.  
 
God calls us to trust. He has us “under his wing”. When we find ourselves in overwhelming situations, when God directs our path through turbulent times, unlike those that do not know God, we do not need to “fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.” God is our shield. He is our refuge. He will keep us safe, He will “command his angels concerning [us] 
to guard [us] in all your ways.” 
 
Let go, like a child, and trust your Heavenly Father to take you through your “night in the wilderness”.  
 
Burt Bergmann 

3 Month Reading Plan - Psalm 90