So what does this even mean?

When we hit one of those verses that makes us scratch our head, that is the question we usually ask, "So what does this even mean?"

Psalm 121:7- 8 NIV

The LORD will keep you from all harm; he will watch over your life. The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Reflection

This Psalm tells us that God watches over us. It is almost like that line from Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. He sees you when you are sleeping and knows when you are awake. Except the difference is huge. Santa feels a little odd. God watching over us is meant to be protection.

But still, what do we really do with this verse?

Most of us have lived long enough to know life hits hard. You get hurt. You watch people you love suffer. You carry old wounds. You face new ones. You see the world go sideways. You read this verse and think, really? God keeps me from harm?

That is where the tension is.

Because this world has never been gentle. Not when this Psalm was written and not today. People suffered then. People suffer now. Life is messy. People walk away. People fail you. People hurt you.

So we circle back to the question. What is God actually promising here?

The honest answer is this. God has always been drawing us into relationship with Him. But He is beyond our understanding. We get glimpses, not the full picture. So when Scripture tries to capture who He is, there is only so much our minds can take in. Sometimes we just have to accept that we will not understand every line.

There is no promise of an easy life. None. You and I both know that. We do not get a guarantee that everything works out clean. We do not get to dodge the hard stuff. Life is not defined by the good moments or the painful ones. It is not defined by what was done to us. It is not defined by what we messed up. It is not even defined by where we are right now.

So what is it defined by?

God walking with us. That is it. Not a perfect life. Not an answered list of prayers. Not comfort. Presence.

If we can accept that God is bigger than our ability to understand Him, then we can also accept that walking with Him is enough. Even when the road is rough. Even when the good and the bad get mixed together. Even when everything feels uncertain.

Eternity is the finish line. This life is the path. We walk it with Him and that is where the promise sits.

Look, I am a follower of Jesus. I have had plenty of things in my life that made me pause, question, and wonder what God was doing. I get why some people doubt. I really do. But for me, I know He has shown up in my life. I know He still is. And I know He keeps shaping me as I walk with Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, some verses challenge us. Some seasons stretch us. We do not always understand what is happening. But You never leave. Help us trust You in every moment. Help us remember that You walk with us through whatever comes. That Your presence is greater than any outcome we hope for. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Amen.