God Never Sleeps on the Job

“The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8 NIV

As I toss and turn, the alarm clock taunts me. It’s 2:30 AM. I stare at the ceiling, breathe deeply, and try to relax. At 3:15 AM, negative thoughts continue to swirl around in my wide-awake brain. I am alone with no one to take care of me when I get old. Who will take care of me if I get sick? What if I end up in a nursing home?

Fears of being old and alone haunted me nightly. No husband. No children. Poor pitiful me.

One sleepless night, I snatched my Bible from the nightstand and searched the psalms for comfort. I found Psalm 121. While reading it, I envisioned a soft and cuddly blanket of God’s love and protection enveloping me as I relaxed and finally fell asleep.

Friend, do you relate to my nighttime fears of loneliness? Or maybe you worry about illness, job loss, marriage or family problems, financial troubles, civil unrest, war, or terrorism. The list of our worries is endless.

However, God promises to be our helper, protector, keeper, and guard in Psalm 121. God never sleeps on the job. The psalmist writes, “he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4 NIV).

The last two verses sum it up by stating, “The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:7-8 NIV).

The Jews sang Psalm 121 while traveling to and from Jerusalem for the pilgrimage festivals. On the arduous journey, they likely feared unseen enemies, bad weather, dangerous wild animals, lack of food and water, and treacherous terrain.

Our modern world is a scary place too. Uncertainty and fear about the future cause stress, anxiety, exhaustion, doubt, and depression. But God, the Creator of heaven and earth, constantly guards us and never lets us out of His sight. God never sleeps on the job.

And here is the best news ever—God’s protection extends into forevermore. Because God sacrificed His Son Jesus for the sins of the world, we look forward to spending eternity with Him. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

I’d like to say I never worry about the future anymore. But when the “what ifs” threaten us, let’s grab our Bibles and thank God for never sleeping on the job. Wherever we are and no matter our circumstances, God is there. He is faithful.

Join with me today and resolve to depend on God’s protection now and forevermore.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for always watching over our lives and protecting us from harm. There is no one like you, Lord! We are never alone because you love us as your children. Help us not to fear the future because You will take care of us and supply what we need. I know You have the future in Your hands and will work everything out for our good. Thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to earth, to pay our debt of sin so we will live forevermore with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.