Consider the Lilies: Comfort in Psalm 91

One of my very first blog posts was entitled  Consider the Lilies. In it I describe how God gave me the verse of Luke 12:27 and the name Lily to me as comfort during a high risk pregnancy. I love blogging about things we are doing and adventures we are experiencing, but I also would like to share some of the encouraging things God is teaching me along the way. I'd like to continue the "Consider the Lilies" portion of my blog, so here is what I've been focusing on this week......

Before we moved to Japan I was very fearful. Being the type of person I am, I'm usually as prepared as I can be in a situation. I have this detailed planner that organizes my life and schedule. I don't care for surprises or the unknown. I like to be in control of factors affecting our life and have planned response to challenges. I knew that moving to Japan would stretch me. The earthquake a year ago threw in another factor that caused my mind to wander. The fear stretched beyond myself, and was intensified when I thought about our one year old daughter. Am I not responsible for her safety and her well being? Is the food safe? Is the water safe? Should I be worried about the radiation from Fukushima? What if I need to take her to see the doctor? What if there is an emergency and I can't get a hold of Matt? What if there is another earthquake? The list goes on.

We have been in Japan almost 2 months now and I am peaceful. God is bigger than all of these worries I had/have. Psalm 91 is very comforting to me.

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
³ Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Dear Father,
  I put my trust in you. There are so many unknowns, but I believe that you order my footsteps. I thank you that I can rest in peace knowing that you love Matt and Lily even more than I do and that you already have tomorrow planned. Thank you for this opportunity to grow and to trust you more.
In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen .