The One Who Always Watches Over Us
For he will command his angels concerning you
To guard you in all your ways;
They will lift you up in their hands
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
To guard you in all your ways;
They will lift you up in their hands
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:11-12
My granddaughter Faith has had an experience of some kind with God. I’m not sure exactly what happened but I know it’s real. She knows things about God that a child of her age, who is fairly unchurched, would not know. Further, she knows things about people who died long before she was born, that none of us have told her. One night while she was sharing some of her experience with me she referred to God as “the one who always watches over us.” When I asked her who she meant she said, “God” in a voice that suggested that I might be a bit less than intelligent, not in a sassy way but more in the way of a teacher to reluctant student. I then asked her why she didn’t just say God and she told me that “the one who watches over us” is one of God’s names. She informed me that lots of people call Him that. My reaction to that is a story for a different day. Today I am more interested in the idea of God watching over us.
Faith and her sister Madelyn have an Elf on the Shelf. It’s a brilliant marketing idea. This little elf watches them, returns to Santa at night to report on their behavior and shows up the next day back in their home. Chippy, as they call him, watches them. He’s monitoring their behaviors, making notes to take to his supervisor. Chippy is a spy, not a protector, watching, not watching over, and only for the days just prior to Christmas, in contrast to the one who always watches over us.
When I asked Faith why God watches over us she had a great answer, again one that is not prompted by Sunday school. She told me, “’Cause He loves us. It’s like, if you have a disaster or something, like sickness or a wreck or something, you might stay here or you might go to heaven. If you stay here or go to heaven isn’t important. The important part is God is right there, He’s watching over you. You might hurt or cry but you aren’t alone. You don’t have to be scared.” I might want to mention here, that Faith is six and no, she has never had a near death experience and these conversations notwithstanding, is a normal, average six year old. She’s not a genius or a savant.
Thinking about being watched, as in monitored as opposed to being watched over is something I dealt with when beginning my relationship with Jesus. Unlike Faith I was taught everyday about the God who watches us, watches, in the same way as Chippy the elf, as in, trying to catch me doing something I shouldn’t. I like the concept of a God who watches over us so much better.
Faith said that we are never alone not even in our worst moments. I knew that but to hear it from a six year old had a huge impact. I have no fear of being dead because I know, due to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ I am going home. I do some trepidation about the journey. I have watched too many dear ones suffer. I want to be here one minute; there the next and that may be God’s plan for me. In the meantime I will hang onto Faith’s name for God, the one who always watches over us and I know He will be there in my hour(s) of need.
Faith and her sister Madelyn have an Elf on the Shelf. It’s a brilliant marketing idea. This little elf watches them, returns to Santa at night to report on their behavior and shows up the next day back in their home. Chippy, as they call him, watches them. He’s monitoring their behaviors, making notes to take to his supervisor. Chippy is a spy, not a protector, watching, not watching over, and only for the days just prior to Christmas, in contrast to the one who always watches over us.
When I asked Faith why God watches over us she had a great answer, again one that is not prompted by Sunday school. She told me, “’Cause He loves us. It’s like, if you have a disaster or something, like sickness or a wreck or something, you might stay here or you might go to heaven. If you stay here or go to heaven isn’t important. The important part is God is right there, He’s watching over you. You might hurt or cry but you aren’t alone. You don’t have to be scared.” I might want to mention here, that Faith is six and no, she has never had a near death experience and these conversations notwithstanding, is a normal, average six year old. She’s not a genius or a savant.
Thinking about being watched, as in monitored as opposed to being watched over is something I dealt with when beginning my relationship with Jesus. Unlike Faith I was taught everyday about the God who watches us, watches, in the same way as Chippy the elf, as in, trying to catch me doing something I shouldn’t. I like the concept of a God who watches over us so much better.
Faith said that we are never alone not even in our worst moments. I knew that but to hear it from a six year old had a huge impact. I have no fear of being dead because I know, due to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ I am going home. I do some trepidation about the journey. I have watched too many dear ones suffer. I want to be here one minute; there the next and that may be God’s plan for me. In the meantime I will hang onto Faith’s name for God, the one who always watches over us and I know He will be there in my hour(s) of need.
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