by: Carole L. Haines

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God,
³² The God who encircles me with strength, and makes my way blameless?
³³ He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me up on my high places.
³⁴ He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand           
upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great.
³⁶ You enlarge my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.
(Psalm 18:30-36 NASB)

  I am probably one of the very few people who can say that they hate naps. When I take a nap, most times I wake up from them in a panic, with racing thoughts and full of anxiety. I try not to have to rest in the afternoons. But that can be hard when you struggle with sleeping only 4-6 hours a night. It’s a conundrum.
As I read this Scripture today, I was struck by the imagery and encouragement given. God is the God who encircles me with strength. This word “encircles,” means “to belt, to gird up, to encompass, to hold close.” (Blue Letter Bible) Being held close and encompassed in God is our greatest peace.
You have encircled me behind and in front and placed Your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5 NASB)
Here we have that beautiful “encircling” that God provides for us. And again, in yet another passage of Scripture we see that imagery used similarly:

“Hear, Lord, and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.”
¹¹ You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;
You have untied my sackcloth and encircled me with joy,
¹² That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. (Psalm 30:10-12 NASB)

Imagine being encircled by God Himself, held close within, His strength and filled with His joy. Picture God enclosing you in His arms, buckling you in for your life’s journey with His very own safety belt. As believers in Jesus Christ His Son, we are truly protected by God, held in His strong and mighty arms. I have always pictured joy as being something we only experience inside ourselves, but this scripture speaks of us being encircled with it from without. God first unties our sackcloth, then He encircles us with His joy. Tomorrow we shall look at the untying of our sackcloth; unfolding what that may look like in our everyday lives. May the Lord bless Your day by encircling you with His strength for the journey you are on with Him.