In our chapel class this week, we talked about Psalm 121. It begins with the writer saying, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” This wonderful psalm reminds us that we can trust our Heavenly Father to watch over and protect us. As we discussed this promise and what it looks like in our lives, one person pointed out that we can trust that our Heavenly Father is watching over us, even when we do not realize He is there. This thought reminded me of a special memory of a time when I was in third grade.
That year we attended school in nearby town because my mom was a new teacher there. We generally stayed late after school to wait for her to finish grading papers or one of the thousands of other tasks teachers often engage in. On that particular day, I was supposed to meet a fifth grader after school by bicycle rack. We weren’t meeting there to trade stories. Nope, he wanted to trade punches. We had already traded jokes and insults during lunch. And at some point, I said something which I thought was hilarious, and it must have been because it made everybody laugh. Well, everybody except this certain fifth grader. He got mad and he “double dog dared me” to meet him after school by the bicycle rack. So, I said I would, and I did. Now, please understand I do not condone unnecessary violence. Fighting generally does not solve much of anything. But this was not unnecessary violence in my mind, because I was new at this school, and as I said earlier, he did “double dog dare me” in front of everybody at lunch.
This kid was a lot bigger than I was, so I got there early to survey the surroundings and make note of all the possible exit routes. As I did, I came up with a plan. I scooped up a fistful of dirt in each hand, squared my shoulders, and balled up my fists. I figured as soon as he got close enough, I would throw some dirt, some dust, and some pea gravel in his face. As soon as he closed his eyes, I would pounce on him. Now, again, let me emphasize that I generally do not condone violence. But as I said, he was bigger than I was, so I had a plan – not a godly plan, but a plan nonetheless.
Pretty soon, here comes that fifth grader around the corner, cracking his knuckles and making fish eyes trying to intimidate me. As I watched him walk up, waiting for the right time to execute my “dirt, dust, and pea gravel” plan I noticed some other guys a few steps behind him coming around the corner too. That little rat brought some other fifth graders with him! I don’t know if they were his friends or not, but they were with him! And I didn’t have anybody with me because I was new at school. I hadn’t made any friends yet; I was too busy making enemies! As they got closer, they all started cracking their knuckles and making fish eyes too! I knew that I did not have enough dirt, dust, and pea gravel for all of them.
But I stood there anyway, trying to look a whole lot taller, a whole lot bigger, and a whole lot meaner than I ever looked before. Suddenly, they all stopped in their tracks! They dropped their hands, they stopped cracking their knuckles, they quit making fish eyes, and they just kind of looked at their feet. One or two of them mumbled something and then they all turned and went back the way they came. Before I could congratulate myself for looking so big and mean that I turned away a whole pack of fifth graders, I heard a voice behind me. I turned and saw my father. My mom had to stay extra late that day so my dad came to the school to pick me up and take me home. My father asked me, “Who were those guys?” “Nobody,” I answered. As we walked to the car, I asked my father, “How long were you there?” I will never forget his answer, “Long enough to know you needed more dirt.”
I reflected on all of that as we talked about this psalm. Even though I did not know he was there, my earthly father was right there with me when I needed him. His presence alone made a tough situation turn out for the better. I think that is what the psalmist is trying to impress upon the reader. Our heavenly Father can be trusted to be there when we need Him. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is right there with us, even when we are not aware of His presence. And yet, we often depend on ourselves and rely on our own strategies. We think we have enough dirt, dust, and pea gravel to get out of every situation. We don’t. We think we can plan our way out of every bad situation. We can’t. Do you need help? Do you need strength, protection, wisdom, guidance, comfort, mercy, and grace? Ask the same question and come up with the same answer as the writer of Psalm 21, “Where shall my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” He will watch over you, both now and forevermore. Turn to Him. He is much closer than you know.
May God bless you and the people you love,
Pastor Phillip
God has your back! 