Against All Harm

Against all harm.

Psalms 121:7
The LORD will keep you from all harm —
he will watch over your life; (NIV)

The Lord will keep me from all harm. Really? Is there anyone out there who feels that God has kept them from all harm? Many of us could say ‘amen’ to this passage if it were a bit different. Perhaps, if it said the Lord would mostly keep us from harm or that He would keep us from a lot of harm, then we could agree wholeheartedly. All harm is the phrase the Spirit uses here. He will keep us from all harm.

We might be willing to go there if His protection was based on our faithfulness since we can all say that we struggle to be faithful. But when innocence is taken violently and injustice perpetrates into our families and communities, how can we agree that God will keep us from all harm?

The original language is better translated as “Jehovah preserveth thee from all evil, He doth preserve thy soul.” The Lord is able to preserve or keep us. By His strength, we are sustained when evil pervades. By Him, we find the light in the darkness. By Him, we find strength in our weakness. By Him, we do not give up or shrink back in our faith despite the agony we may face.

We see in Christ a dependence upon the Holy Spirit in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is fully aware of the torture He is about to face. The Bible says He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. The pressure burst His capillaries and sweat beaded up from His sweat glands. Yet, He received strength from the Lord who sent not only the Holy Spirit but also angels to give Him strength.

When we are harmed, holding near to the Holy Spirit will fill us with a strength that helps us endure the suffering and come out of it with a strong faith. We must discipline our body language, words, facial expressions, and attitude to align with the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit promises to help us with the discipline to do this and as we do, we emerge more fortified. We are more than preserved. His power will have increased in us.

Prayer: Lord, help me to know that if I hold on to You against all harm, you will see me through and make me stronger. Amen.