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If you ever rode the Washington D.C. metro (and many of you reading this have) then you know what its like during rush hour when the metro comes to a stop and the doors are about to open, if you’re not on top of your game and quick enough, you’ll soon be crowded out as people push you out of the way to get through the open doors. Times that by … well, a lot… and thats what I hear the trains will be like in the big “C”. Constant crowds of people pushing and invading your space.
Its made me take some time today to think about the things that surround us and occupy the space around us. We can find ourselves surrounded with people, surrounded with noise, surrounded with busy-ness and the never ending tasks, surrounded with laughter. Some are surrounded with favor, success, health, loved ones and wealth. This often leads to a feeling of security and confidence – which too much of it and it leads to pride. But, quite often we can find themselves surrounded by difficulty, stress, hardships, loneliness, and trouble on every side. This can lead to a feeling of insecurity, fear, doubt and hopelessness. These things ebb and flow out of our lives so frequently. One day we can be surrounded by security and the next feel absolutely insecure.
Sitting here in Hong Kong looking at the hills and mountains that surround this city, I’m reminded of one thing that surrounds us that is constant. These mountains are big, mighty, unshakable, immovable, and secure. There is only one person that can surround us like mountains can. In Psalm 125 it says, Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jersalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever.
In Zechariah 2:3-5, God describes himself as a wall of fire. His presence surrounds us from every direction. It also says in Ps 34. 7 that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them.
Can you believe that?! When we fear the Lord, he assigns angels to encamp around us. I dont’ know about you, but I think thats pretty stinking cool.
Even in the midst of trouble, we can know that he surrounds us. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Ps 34:19.
We can find security and assurance in this. That when we find things constantly changing in this world, and especially in light of our falling economy and the uncertainty of our government and who will lead our nation, we can know one thing for sure – believe on God and he will surround you. His love and presence will surround you. Ps 139:5 says he has hemmed us in – before and behind and has land his hand on us. We can find confidence and security knowing that God surrounds us and will never let go of us. His grip will never loosen. His protection will never end. His love will never change.
He surrounds us.
