Always there!
I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
(Psalm 121) New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
This Psalm speaks peace to our deepest fears. It was one of the first psalms I memorized when I became Protestant in 1975, when I was a university student during difficult political times in my country of origin El Salvador. Being a university student in those day was so dangerous. My deepest fear was I could get killed any time and not come back home with my wife. But during that, I found peace in every part of this psalm that gave me the assurance that God was with me.
We are living in difficult times in which fears and worries are part of our daily lives. Every night, each of us must abandon consciousness for several hours. Our surrender to sleep—while God neither slumbers nor sleeps—symbolizes the truth that we are always held in God’s presence regardless of our awareness. God is near and watching over us.
What worries or fears make you anxious about safety, your health, your work or your children?
Make a list of three of your concerns. In the same way that you “let go” for sleep, offer these worries to God. If you think it may be helpful, put your list where you can see it and offer these concerns to God throughout the day.
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, these are difficult times. Worries and fears seem to overwhelm us in different directions. Help us to find in your Holy Word the assurance that you walk with us, that you take even our sleep to renew us in your love and mercy. Wake us up to the assurance that you will keep our going out and our coming in from this time on and forevermore.
In Jesus Christ, our Lord we pray, Amen!
The peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jorge,
May this devotion provide you with a moment of faithful reflection and care. You are involved in ministries of justice and witness, in ministries of standing up and standing with people working to create better systems and communities, in ministries of learning and searching and researching to become more aware and awakened, more technologically savvy and proficient, more virtually and personally present in your churches and communities and world. Each of us who serve as members of your Wisconsin Cabinet write these devotions in grateful prayer for you – for sustenance and buoyancy, for strength and courage, for safety and just actions, and for faith and love to be full and fulfilled in your daily lives. God’s grace and blessings, God’s challenge and healthy discomfort, God’s Spirit and energy be with you, in the hope Christ offers us all.
¡Siempre allí!
Alzaré mis ojos a los montes. ¿De dónde vendrá mi socorro?
Mi socorro viene de Jehová, que hizo los cielos y la tierra.
No dará tu pie al resbaladero ni se dormirá el que te guarda.
Por cierto, no se adormecerá ni dormirá el que guarda a Israel.
Jehová es tu guardador, Jehová es tu sombra a tu mano derecha.
El sol no te fatigará de día ni la luna de noche.
Jehová te guardará de todo mal, él guardará tu alma.
Jehová guardará tu salida y tu entrada desde ahora y para siempre.
(Salmo 121) Versión Reina Valera 1995
Este Salmo habla de traer paz aun nuestros temores más profundos. Fue uno de los primeros salmos
que yo me memorice cuando llegue a ser protestante en 1975, durante los difíciles tiempos políticos en mi país de origen El Salvador. Ser un estudiante universitario en esos tiempos era muy peligroso. Mi profundo temor era que me mataran y no poder regresar a casa con mi esposa. Pero durante esta situación yo encontré paz en cada una de las partes de este salmo, que me dio la certeza de que Dios estaba conmigo.
Estamos viviendo tiempos difíciles en los cuales los temores y las preocupaciones son parte de nuestra vida diaria. Todas las noches cada uno de nosotros debemos abandonar la conciencia por varias horas. Es que nuestra entrega al sueño—mientras Dios no se adormece ni duerme—simboliza la verdad de que nosotros estamos sostenidos en la presencia de Dios independientemente de nuestra conciencia. Dios esta cerca y cuidando de nosotros.
Que preocupaciones y temores les hacen estar ansiosos/as por su seguridad, su salud, su trabajo o sus hijos/as? Haga una lista de tres de sus preocupaciones. De la misma manera que usted “se deja” dormir, déjele estas preocupaciones a Dios. Si usted cree que sería de ayuda, ponga su lista donde la pueda ver y ofrézcale estas preocupaciones a Dios durante todo este día.
Oración: Dios de gracia y de misericordia, estos son tiempos difíciles. Las preocupaciones y los temores parecen que nos envuelven por todas direcciones. Ayúdanos a encontrar en tu Santa Palabra la seguridad de que tu caminas con nosotros/as, que tu usas aun nuestro sueño para renovarnos en tu amor y misericordia. Despiértanos con la cereza de que tu guardaras nuestra salida y nuestra entrada desde ahora y para siempre.
En Jesucristo nuestro Señor, Amen!
La Paz del Señor sea con ustedes,
Pastor Jorge