June 8, 2023 8:00 pm
Retired teacher Debbie Stephens Browder is on a mission to convince as many people as possible to plant trees. The reason? Heat. Extreme heat in the United States is the number-one weather-related cause of death. In response, Stephens Browder says, “I’m starting with trees.” The canopy of heat protection that trees provide is one significant way to protect communities. Stephens Browder explains, “It’s life or death. It’s not just about beautifying the community. It’s about saving lives.”
The fact that shade isn’t just refreshing but potentially life-saving would have been well known to the psalmist who wrote Psalm 121; in the Middle East, the risk of sunstroke is constant. This reality adds depth to the psalm’s vivid description of God as our surest place of safety, the One in whose care “the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” (v. 6).
This verse can’t mean that believers in Jesus are somehow immune to pain or loss in this life (or that heat isn’t dangerous!). After all, Christ tells us, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). But this metaphor of God as our shade does vividly reassure us that, whatever comes our way, our lives are held in His watchful care (Psalm 121:7–8). There we can find rest through trusting Him, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love (John 10:28; Romans 8:39).
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Hi, and thanks for joining us for today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional titled Our Place of Safety. It was written by Monica LaRose. Retired teacher Debbie Stevens Browder is on a mission to convince as many people as possible to plant trees. The reason? Heat. Extreme heat in the United States is the number one weather-related cause of death.
In response, she says, I'm starting with trees. The canopy of heat protection that trees provide is one significant way to protect communities. It's life or death.
It's not just about beautifying the community. The fact that shade isn't just refreshing but potentially life-saving would have been well known to the psalmist who wrote Psalm 121. In the Middle East, the risk of sunstroke is constant. This reality adds depth to the psalm's vivid description of God as our surest place of safety. The one in whose care the sun will not harm us by day nor the moon by night. This first can't mean that believers in Jesus are somehow immune to pain or loss in this life or that heat isn't dangerous. After all, Christ tells us in John chapter 16, in this world you will have trouble. But this metaphor of God as our shade does vividly reassure us that whatever comes our way, our lives are held in His watchful care. There, we can find rest through trusting Him, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Psalm 121.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will not slumber indeed. He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you. The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. 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. Let's pray.
Dear God, thank you for being our place of shade and safety. Help us to find rest and courage as we grow in trusting you. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Alisha Reisinger and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-06-08 21:06:04 / 2023-06-08 21:07:32 / 1
