Pondering in His Presence: Both Now and Forever

"The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." Psalm 121:8

I will never forget reading this verse on the morning of March 18th, 2008. The previous evening an email arrived in my Inbox that both thrilled and terrified me. I had been chatting with my sweet friend Holly, sharing with her my longing to register for the "She Speaks" conference in North Carolina, a Proverbs 31 Ministry conference I had attended the year prior with the Women's Ministry Leader from our church. I had participated in the "speakers track" initially, but now I wanted to return for the "writers track", but instead of driving down with a friend this time, I knew I would have to fly, and fly alone.

You may recall the devotional on September 26 that very clearly identified my fear of heights and airplanes. My mind struggles to comprehend how a huge, heavy container of steel, filled with passengers, can defy gravity and stay up in the air. Oh, I know the scientific explanation, but it still boggles my mind to understand. I would rather keep my feet on the ground, thank you very much.

Completing my conversation online with Holly late that evening, I was scrolling through some blogs I followed. Fifteen years ago, blogging was more of a "thing" and I had "met" several wonderful new friends through this avenue of technology. Suddenly a "You've Got Mail" notification appeared on my screen. I clicked on my email account and was completely surprised to see the name of the "sender". Although I had met Lysa TerKeurst a couple of times in the past, I had never received a personal message from her before.

I opened the email with nervous excitement. She had been talking to Holly. Lysa was writing to encourage me not to let the enemy keep me from attending the conference. She said that she really felt that the Lord specifically wanted me there this year and she would put together a prayer team who would be praying the entire time of my flight, both down and back.

I know I sat in shock for a while. In the silence, while trying to fathom my next steps, another email arrived, this time from a "blogging" friend. She had booked a room to the conference and needed a room-mate. She asked, "Joy, are you planning to attend? You could room with me." It was well past my bedtime and my thoughts (and tummy) were turning over and over as I headed upstairs to try and get some sleep.

After a restless night, with morning coffee in hand, I reached for my Bible and journal, desperately needing to hear from God. The events that had transpired over the past twelve hours had shaken my world and I needed confirmation from the Lord on how to respond. Falling to my knees, in tears, I begged God to speak to me. Longing to hear, yet uncertain how He would answer, I opened my journal. The verse from Psalm 121 was written on the top of the page. In the New International Version it read: "The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." My answer had come. God reminded me of the assurance of His presence, the very truths that I needed before I put one foot on that plane.

God was not guaranteeing me a smooth trip or even necessarily a safe trip, but He was promising me His presence. Before I could change my mind, I completed my registration and I found out later that as soon as I registered, they closed the registration.

Where God guides, He provides. If there is an adventure with your name on it, and you are hesitant, know that He will not abandon you. He continues to watch over our coming and going, both now and forevermore.