Assisting Angels

I wrote two Scriptures at the top of my journal page today. The first is a pretty straightforward instruction: “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” (Psalm 105:4 NIV). The second is from Psalm 91 and refers to the angels God promises to send to “keep” us in all our ways, and how (in part) they accomplish that: “they will lift you up in their hands so you will not strike your foot against a stone.”( Psalm 91:12 NIV)

I have personal experience with that one. When I was in Africa with son Kevin and his wife, Alex, I signed on for a hike to see a waterfall. It was only 1 ½ miles on a well-marked trail – no problem. I wondered why they sent two African guides with us for such an easy stroll.

I soon found out that they were not “guides”, but angels God had sent to literally lift me up and over the stones along the way! In my assumption on the ease of the hike, I had pictured a horizontal trail for some reason, not a vertical one. This one went straight down, then followed a stony creek bed to the foot of the falls… and then back up to return to our starting point.

I did fine going down. But traversing the stony creek bed required a guide on either side, holding my arms as I cautiously moved from rock to slippery rock. And for the return trip, God sent additional angels in the form of two heavy women with small children who were in front and behind us, likewise struggling as He knew I would be to get back up to the top of the ravine. Our group had no choice but to take it slow!

I told a friend fighting a battle with cancer to think of his treatment along the lines of that hike. The initial stages might seem easily traversed. Things might get a little rocky as he gets closer to his goal. And the return trip to good health might take longer than he anticipated or desired. But he should never doubt that he will get there… not because he is strong or determined… but because God knows the path before him and has already strategically placed angels in the spots or on the days where he might need a hand.

One has already come his way! I heard he got a lift chair just to help him get up on days when he feels a little weak. I can’t think of a more literal example of “lifting you up” by the armrests than that! He’s to think of it not as a help or an angel necessarily (although it is both those things!) so much as a promise to daily fill his life with the same.

He’s got this, because God’s got him… just as he has each of us going through difficult times. Let those angels be like my trail guides and earn their pay! Your recognition and appreciation of the same will surely make God’s day.

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12 KJV)