Psalm 16:8

NASB	NLT	VOICE
8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.	8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.	8 He is ever present with me; at all times He goes before me. I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He stands at my right hand.

The Unshakable Presence of God

The psalmist here (believed to be David) shows an awareness and acknowledgement that God is present with them at all times. Having the Lord before ourselves in life shows devotion and obedience to Him. It shows how personal of a relationship that we have with God. God being at someone’s right hand or right beside them was a position of honor and strength in the ancient Near East. The right hand also shows a place of advocacy, showing that God is always there to help us when we are in trouble. In that, we are not shaken. Shaken implies instability and fear, which is not present with the security found in God. Historically, David faced many challenges, but always kept his trust in God. In the New Testament, believers were called to build their lives with the foundation of Christ. This unshakeable nature of faith in God is a promise of spiritual security and peace.

God’s Protection Doesn’t Always Look Like It

How many of you see God’s presence in your life? How many of you who do, take that time to praise God for being with you? How often do we overlook it? It’s sometimes hard to see how God is actively working in your life. We think certain instances when we’re denied something is God being mean to us because we felt that the moment would bring us good. We rarely think about how that door being closed was a sign of God’s protection. I know when I was terminated as the Director of Youth and Children’s ministry – I was in constant prayer with God. We had a plan for when my time was over, but it didn’t work out. The door was closed early due to that termination. I questioned why then, but I recognized that I was ready to quit just three days after they terminated me. God showed that I needed to trust his timing and his process. 

Trusting the Process, Even When It Hurts

The lessons I learned from that moment have carried with me through all other jobs I’ve had, and all relationships I’ve carried from then on out. If it’s meant to be, God will allow it. If it’s not, God will deny it. It may be frustrating at the moment, but God is guiding my path and I am here to follow him to the best of my ability.  

Reflection Questions

1. What’s one time God closed a door – and you didn’t understand why until later?
2. Where in your life are you still trying to stand on your own, instead of leaning on God?
3. How can you create daily awareness of God?

Call to Action

Pause today and write out one area of your life where you feel shaken right now. Pray through Psalm 16:7 and ask God to help you rest.

Next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #257