Feeling alone, troubled in despair, uncertain of the future, saddened by circumstances, facing opposition from varying directions – these are all difficult trials to endure. They can come in waves or a single storm; they can quickly pass or can linger for days and sometimes years. At times, the Israelites felt this way; believers can go through these times. The Psalmist wrote: “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore (Psalm 125.1-2). Here is our hope. He gives us the strength of Mount Zion, which ”cannot be moved.” No matter what man does, what trials we face, the Lord does not change; He is not weakened. Our hope and confidence are in our Lord, in His sovereign care and faithful promises.
Being “surrounded” by the LORD, we can rest in the fulness of His peace. Being surrounded by our Lord, nothing can harm us, nothing can remove us from His presence, nothing can void His promises. We are surrounded by His love, enduring to the end. We are surrounded by His grace, as He always give us the very opposite of what we deserve. We are surrounded by His power, which is able to defeat any attacks of the enemy. We are surrounded by His shepherding, as He keep us through each day and will throughout eternity. We are surrounded by His mercy, as He is every willing to forgive us of all sin. We are surrounded by His promises, which will never fail. We are surrounded by His provisions, as He will always give us everything we need “for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1.3-4). We are surrounded by His faithfulness, as we know He will ever be faithful to all He promises. Though days may be rough and difficult, unwanted, and tiring, may we ever remember: our Lord surrounds us, and regardless of what we feel or what is happening He will ever keep us as His own.
Being surrounded by the Lord – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 