You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. Psalm 91
There are times in the lives of each of us when we feel devastated by loss, and each of us must learn how to cope with the grief and despair that accompanies such pain – remembering that God is always there to support and comfort us. Bible study is one of the tools for understanding that love and support. Bible Study Groups, in which people strive to understand God more fully, and to learn how to live as Jesus tried to teach us, are even more effective, because they help us to learn that we are not alone, and to reach out to help others. We are blessed indeed to have God’s Word to study and people with whom to share our faith journeys. Just as Psalm 91 gave me comfort when I most needed it, I have found other verses to help me as I try to grow in my understanding and following of God’s wishes for us.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your steadfast love and patience with us as we struggle to understand painful events in our lives. Thank you for the blessings of your Word, and for the lessons that they teach us. Help us to know that we are not alone and that our pain can be relieved by helping others. Help us to become examples of the strength and support you have so graciously bestowed on us. Amen.
