“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul”
(Psalm 121:7).
IN 2021, I was invited to give a Week of Prayer at Peruvian Union University. It was a very enriching and challenging experience because it was the first time a speaker would have to visit all three university campuses. The first two days I preached in Lima, where I enjoyed very pleasant weather. Then, the next two days we traveled to the jungle, to Tarapoto, a city with hot and humid weather. Each time I preached it was as if I had entered a sauna, but I enjoyed the church in that place.
Halfway through the week came the great challenge: to preach in Juliaca, a very cold place that is 12,500 feet above sea level.
When I arrived at the airport, a group from the university gave me a coat. a pair of gloves, a hat, and a scarf to protect myself from the cold. During the trip from the airport to the auditorium where I would be preaching that night. an excellent team of doctors came with me. Three minutes after getting into the vehicle. they asked me how I felt; I told them I was fine. Five minutes later they asked me again; I told them I was fine, but a bit dizzy. They then checked my oxygen levels, and when they discovered they were significantly low, they decided to connect me to an oxygen tank. During my entire stay in Juliaca, someone was checking on me and my breathing. In the same way, when we have to go through challenging situations, God is always close to us, looking after our footsteps and our needs.
I really like the image the psalmist uses when he says, “The Lord is your deeper the Lord is your shade at your right hand” (Psalm 121:5). Six times the psalmist refers to the Lord as the One who keeps us, who protects us from all evil. His watchful eye is constantly on us; He does not grow tired, He does not sleep. He is always by our side.
Knowing that our heavenly Father will not abandon us when we are in need of oxygen, drowning in tears, or have secret wounds that will not heal, will help us stand firm when the world crumbles around us. The Lord‘s care will turn the greatest challenges into a marvelous learning experience. because even in the midst of human misery, He has promised to “preserve your soul” (Psalm 121:7).
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Avineyda Hernandez
