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When I was given Psalm 16:8 for the month of January 2020, little did I know that it would become a fortress for the entire year.
In January I wrote:
Because I have set the LORD continually before me, He is within easy reach. I don't even need to think about it. It should be a natural reflex to reach for Him no matter the circumstances.
Like a child reaching for her father's hand, certain it will be there every time.
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When neighbours hid in houses and bustling streets went quiet,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When plexiglass barriers went up and friendly smiles were covered,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When looking down at directional arrows replaced looking each other in the eye,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When Covid numbers climbed and human experts cautioned,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When travel was restricted and I was cut off from children and grandchildren,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When groceries had to be disinfected as they entered our doors,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When my temperature was taken before I entered my hair salon,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When Mom was not allowed to attend the funeral of a beloved sister,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When grandchildren couldn't invite friends to their birthday parties,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When riots broke out and the world seemed to go crazy,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When I watched friends suffer during a time of Covid,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
When fear threatens and despair taunts,
When weariness for the world sets in,
When prayers for others stack up like bricks too heavy to carry,
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
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When I look back over the year, I see how I reached for my Father's hand over and over again. Because He has proven Himself trustworthy in my past, it is a natural, almost unconscious, response to reach for the strong and comforting hand that I know will be there. Every time.
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I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8
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Joy writes from Edmonton, AB where she lives with her Cowboy, and soon-to-be-married Babe. The arrival of Covid19 prompted her to begin the Tea Time posts on her blog, Scraps of Joy, in order to help create community in isolation.
