His ever presence by David & Sandy Goede
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where does my help come?” — Psalm 121:1
There are moments when faith feels like a question rather than a declaration. The psalmist gives voice to that moment: From where does my help come? It is the cry of a pilgrim looking ahead, uncertain of the road, aware of danger, longing for assurance. Psalm 121 answers not with escape, but with presence: My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
John 19 brings us to a place where that promise is tested.
At the cross, help does not look like rescue. Jesus is mocked, wounded, and lifted up between heaven and earth. The crowd sees failure; the disciples see loss; even creation responds with darkness. Yet John insists—quietly, insistently—that nothing here is accidental. Scripture is being fulfilled. Love is being poured out. When Jesus cries, “It is finished,” He is not surrendering to defeat but declaring completion.
Psalm 121 promises that God does not slumber or sleep. John 19 shows us what that vigilance looks like. The Father is not absent at the cross; He is at work in the deepest way imaginable. God’s keeping does not always prevent suffering—but it never abandons His purpose, and it never lets suffering have the final word.
In late 2023, my father fell and fractured his hip. He had multiple chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney failure, which required dialysis. His recovery from his surgery was prolonged and he had complications which required a stay at a rehab facility. Between work, family, caring for my mother, and making sure we were there for dad, both Sandy and I found solace in scripture and our faith. One day, Dad experienced a medical crisis at rehab, Sandy and I urgently arrived at his bedside with my mother. We made the decision to move Dad to comfort care rather than sending him to the hospital where his life would only have been prolonged. With that decision, I had so many waves of emotions and doubts. Through our prayers and our friend’s prayers we were comforted and knew we had made the right decision. During his final hours, I wanted to calm him, so I read scripture to him. I read Psalm 23 multiple times and this was the last scripture he heard before crossing over to God’s glorious Kingdom.
Lord,
We place ourselves in Your care.
We ask that you watch over us each day and
give us peace, strength for today,
and comfort in Your presence.
Lord, we thank you for always being near.
These things we pray in your name.
Amen.