~ Not Alone ~

[Lani]

Psalm 139:1-18
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.



The psalmist wrote, “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5 (NRSV)



The day my daughter turned 20, she went to celebrate with some friends. Other friends and acquaintances kept telephoning to wish her a happy birthday and commented on the fact that I was home alone. I was glad for their congratulations but brushed away their sympathy because I was no alone. The Lord was with me.

At the time my child was born, I never thought about God. In those days, I relied on my own strength and on the help of other people. Immediately after her birth, I was put in a ward alone, and everyone left. I lay there on my own, helpless. No one came to help me, and I felt as though everyone had forgotten about me. I knocked on the wall, but no one answered.

Today I see clearly that I was knocking in the wrong place. I am certain that if I had turned to God, I would have found help. Of course, God helped me anyway. Eventually one of the nurses appeared, but I can still remember my overwhelming loneliness.

Now I read Psalm 139 again and again, and I realize that whatever happens in my life, I have never been and never will be alone. God cares about me.


Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for your constant care. Thank you that wherever we go, “your hands shall lead [us], and your right hand shall hold [us] fast” Psalm 139:10. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: Those celebrating birthdays today

Thought for the Day: Because of God's faithfulness, we are never alone.

Story shared by: G. Samson (Russia)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 8/30/11