Borne Up

Borne Up

Psalm 91:12 - "They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

This verse zooms in from the grand picture of angels on assignment to something almost domestic, hands under your feet, keeping you from stubbing your toe on a stone in the path. It is a small mercy compared to deliverance from pestilence or the fowler's snare, and that is exactly the point. God's care is not reserved only for the dramatic dangers. It reaches down to the small stumbling stones too, the tiredness that could make you careless, the ordinary hazard that could have cost a day.

Many of us thank God loudly for the big rescues and forget to notice the small ones, the near miss on the road that barely registered, the mistake that almost happened but did not. Bearing up is gentle language. It suggests support, not merely rescue after a fall, but a steadying hand that keeps the fall from happening at all.

Psalm 37:23 to 24 says that the steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord and that, though they fall, they will not be utterly cast down. God's hand is present in both the dramatic rescue and the quiet moment that keeps us steady.

Today, notice the small mercies, not only the large ones, and give thanks for both.

Slow down and notice the small mercies of this week. Which mistake, near miss, timely reminder or quiet help have you overlooked?

Prayer

Lord, thank you for bearing me up in the small things as much as the large ones. Keep my feet from stumbling over the ordinary stones in my path today, and give me eyes to notice the small mercies I usually overlook. Amen.