My favorite Psalm in the Bible is Palm 139. There is so much wrapped inside that poem. It addresses our anxieties and insecurities.
You have searched me, Lord , and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord , know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:1-6 NIV
This set of verses gave, “God is with you,” new meaning for me. I think these verses go much deeper than just a theological statement in regards to God knowing everything. God knows me better than I even know myself. He knows my heart. This kind of “knowing” goes beyond academic. It’s a relational knowing.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Have you ever felt a friend or loved one touch your shoulder when you’re struggling? How about a conversation in which someone is just listening to you share the hard things going on in your life? It could be an addiction, a relationship issue, or just feeling lost. When I’ve experienced that, I’ve felt a release of anxiety and stress. It makes us feel cared for.
God touches our shoulders when we are struggling. He does even more than that, He “hems” us in. He is behind us and before us. We are wrapped in His presence.
This can bring great comfort, especially when we don’t know where we are going. When we feel like we don’t belong or measure up, this Psalm reminds us that God knows us and is with us. Whether in pain, anxiety, or holding on to a thread of hope, God wants to hem us in His presence.
musingsonlife 