Scripture
My help comes from the Lord…
He will not let you stumble
The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord keeps you from all harm. Psalm 121 Selected

Observation
In the flat center of the red Australian continent rises not a mountain but a solitary rock. It’s known as Uluru or Ayers Rock and it’s the world’s largest monolith. Tourists like me were scrambling up the side, grasping the heavy chain hand rail to pull themselves up to the top. The sides are steep and the guide warned us about the tourists that tumbled to their death by letting go of the chain. While we were snaking our way up the rock, other tourists were coming down on the other side of the handrail. A lady descending had been scaling the rock face in stiletto high heels! Just when I was marveling at her naiveté, she stumbled and tumbled in front of me. I and another tourist reached out and grabbed her by the hand and pulled her back to safety.

God does that with me as well. I’ve done things as mountain climbing in stilettos. I’ve taken wrong roads, brought too much stuff and left the right stuff at home and have been helplessly lost. But just when I stumble a hand reaches out to brace me.

I did some research into the phrase, “He will not let you stumble.” The words literally translate, “He will not let your foot wobble.” God is watching my footwork and knows just when to step in.

How?

Because he is watching over me and keeping me from all harm. There are times we can’t see where we are going but God knows right where we are.

Application
“You are being watched” is not normally a good thing, but this time it is. I’m under God’s surveillance and that is a great comfort. The question is, am I looking up to the Lord from whom my help comes from?

Prayer
Father, this psalm is written not to ask us to do anything but to remind us of what you are doing for us. You are watching me. There are times I feel that I’ve marched off of the map. I wonder if I’ve checked in often enough for directions. Have I digressed too far? Yet, in the end I find that I was being led by hands I could not see. Even when it feels sometimes that I’m making things up I discover that you are working things out. So I trust the hand I cannot see and follow the voice I cannot hear and know that you have everything under control. Amen.