911

I have always had trouble sleeping at night, whether from nightmares or sleep paralysis, or the fear that no one was awake to warn me of possible dangers. Sleeping during the day was easier, and even more so when basking in the warm sun. I shared my fear of sleeping with a good friend of mine, and she introduced me to the 9-1-1 verse. She told me to read it at night before going to sleep to remind myself that I dwell in the shelter of the Lord Almighty.

Since then, Psalm 91 is the verse I go to when I am afraid. It’s a reminder that God has me, no matter how frightening my circumstances. Those circumstances may not be removed, but He is my shield and fortress even in the trial. Sometimes we endure God-sized trials that threaten to overwhelm us, but in those trials we learn to see Him, rely on Him, and know Him. Sometimes God shields us and lifts us out of it and sometimes we are to endure it, but we know from Psalm 91 that God is there with us, providing shelter and refuge.

God says in verse 14 "Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name." We can have trust in the words of this verse that when we love God, God will be with us. He’s calling us to take up permanent residence in His presence, and we will have His power, protection, and provisions.

Yet we don’t deserve any of it. We get to speak to God by the righteousness of Jesus. Through the sacrifice of Christ, we can stand forever in the presence of God, and thank God for the ways he takes us under mighty feathers and places Angels to watch over us so that we may be safe from all harm.