Devotional Thought for Friday

Psalms 16:8 (NLT)
“I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.”

Have you or someone you know ever driven a vehicle from one place to the next without being insured? If you have, you understand what it means to move with fear and trepidation. While traveling, you’re always paranoid because you know that, at any moment, an accident could happen. You could follow all of the safety procedures and precautions provided through drivers ed, but that won’t always prevent you from experiencing a fender bender because some accidents are caused by the negligence of others. Driving without insurance is always a bad idea because you always lose even if the collision wasn’t your fault. What I’ve described is the day-to-day reality of the unbeliever.

Regardless of a person’s status with the divine, God exempts no one from experiencing crashes that deliver pain, trouble, and heartache. Without possessing a relationship with the LORD (which provides eternal insurance), a person has nothing to offset the injuries acquired from the collisions of life. This is why so many people remain hopeless about life and confused about their purpose in it. But that wasn’t the reality for David. He had a confidence that outweighed the fear and suffering that he experienced from life’s collisions. Although he had his share of defeats, challenges, and failures, he was able to move forward because he possessed the assurance that God was always with him.

When my youngest son, Micaiah, and I were involved in a car accident, I’ll never forget the fear that I felt as I watched the headlights of another vehicle move towards the passenger side of my car. After the accident, I kept thinking to myself about how I never wanted to feel that kind of fear or pain again. Through time, my perspective has changed because I’ve realized that that can’t be guaranteed. I can experience another painful accident. But what can be made certain is that regardless of what lies ahead in my itinerary God will always be by my side just like He was on the night of the accident with my son.

We rejoice today not because we’ve never been injured in an accident. We celebrate because despite the injuries that we’ve endured God has been with us to keep us on the path that He has established for our lives. Since our insurance is guaranteed by the assurance that the LORD is always with us, we have access to a unique sense of security that the world can’t understand. It’s the kind of security that inspires us to raise questions while facing life’s challenges (such as COVID-19) that are similar to David’s in Psalms 27:1 when he said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” With God standing beside us, we have no reason for allowing our fears and worries to overwhelm us. His presence is the ingredient that removes all doubt. Since God is always with us, that means that His presence is right where we are. His presence is with us. Praise His name. His presence is with us. Worship Him. His presence is with us. Magnify His name. Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Posted By: Rev. Arthur Wilson, Dean of Spiritual Life