Psalm 121 - Susan Ashton

This song has a bit of history for me personally.  It goes all the way back to 1995, my junior year of college.  In 1995, my devotional reading of choice was My Utmost for His Highest.  Somewhere close to that time, they made a CD that went along with some of the central themes of the devotional.  I had felt the Lord calling me to overseas summer missions since the fall of 1995.  As I completed the application I had to list my top three choices.  There were as follows: Cyprus, Ghana, and the last on the list of possibilities- Zimbabwe.  When my acceptance letter came, I had to go to the school library to see where Zimbabwe was.  I didn't even know it was on the continent of Africa.  That was where the Lord led me that summer. 

In summer 1996, we made mixed tapes and this was on one of 2 tapes I took with me on my missions trip to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.  I was so nervous about leaving everything I knew and loved to serve children and families on the other side of the world.  God, in his wisdom, used this Psalm over and over again.  It seemed to show up in trainings, in letters from home, in devotional readings and on my mixed tape.  I can remember breathing in its words as we drove through military barricades to get to our Bible study homes.  I can remember whispering it as I went to sleep in tears because I missed my family so terribly.  And I remember reciting it with great sadness as I left Zimbabwe knowing I wouldn't see those people again, this side of heaven. 

Fast forward to today, 2014, almost 20 years later.  The words came to me again this morning.  It was a quiet reminder that He is with me.  He is my helper, my guide and my protector.  The best words of Psalm 121 are, "now and forevermore". 

He's not going anywhere.