I’ve spent quite a lot of time in hospital, usually visiting someone or attending an appointment for my son. But I particularly remember the time my daughter was born two months early.
The doctors gave us a side room in the hospital while our daughter was on a life support machine. Everything felt so fragile. We had no idea if she would live. In the side room, we prayed and read Scripture. The Psalm we landed on was Psalm 121. What comfort the Psalm brings. Here’s a version that we sing at church:
I to the hills will lift my eyes.
From where will come my aid?
My aid comes only from the LORD,
who heav’n and earth has made.
Your foot he’ll not let slip, nor will
he slumber who you keeps,
and see! He who keeps Israel,
he slumbers not nor sleeps.
The LORD who keeps you is your shade;
the LORD’s at your right arm.
The sun will not you strike by day;
by night the moon won’t harm.
The LORD from evil will protect;
he’ll surely keep your soul.
The LORD your going out and in
will guard forevermore.
What a Psalm to read in hospital! God reassured us that he was the one who made heaven and earth. What a privilege to talk to the Creator of all things and to know He is our help. It’s natural to look to the doctors to fix everything, but as I looked at my daughter on the life support machine, I realised that the doctors around her were just as dependent on the Lord’s sustaining power as she was.
Hospital can mean being awake when everyone else is asleep. This Psalm tells us God doesn’t slumber or sleep! What a comfort to know that night or day, the LORD is there to talk to. The medical staff get tired and change shifts, but the LORD never tires, never goes off duty.
But what about the Psalm’s promise that the Lord will protect his people from all harm? That might seem strange when you’re in hospital, where you or someone you love has experienced suffering. Having lost parents to cancer, we knew this Psalm wasn’t promising healing from every disease.
What could the Psalm mean when it promises the LORD will keep his people? Perhaps there’s a clue in the final word – forevermore. For those who belong to Jesus, the Lord promises to keep us through every trial, even through death itself. Because Jesus has secured our future, death cannot rob us of the eternal life he gives.
We did not know if our daughter would live, but we knew the LORD was watching over us all the time, working for our good. We knew that we are on a journey, our true home is with the Lord in the new heavens and earth. A place secured by the Lord Jesus who will keep us forever! But while we wait for that day and face various trials what a comfort those who trust Jesus can have, we can know the Lord who made heaven and earth cares for us, and is watching over us day and night.
Where do you turn for comfort when life feels fragile? There is no better place to turn than to the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Nick Jones is one of the ministers in Milford Reformed Presbyterian Church. He can be contacted on 085 8889625 or nickjones2011@gmail.com You can find more at milfordrpc.org
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