“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalms 121:1-8
When we are born again, life does not become easier. But we can learn to live in the mindfulness of God’s presence as our sustainer, His work behind the scenes of our life. Just as we do not give birth to children and then abandon them—-God does not merely save us and then step back to watch us fail. He actively watches, guides, and keeps His children to carry out His divine purpose. Much of His guidance happens so quietly that we only recognize it in hindsight.
Thankfulness plays a huge part in our being able to recognize God’s presence.
But to become aware of God’s work behind the scenes, we must learn to tune in and pay attention. We may hear God in a thought that lingers, a sense of urgency about something that seems minor, or a nudge to pause when efficiency says push forward. These moments rarely feel spiritual at the time. They feel ordinary—until we realize how carefully God was arranging what we could not see. The passage above describes the Lord as our keeper:
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.” Psalm 121:7
Preservation implies forethought. God does not merely equip us to respond to trouble—sometimes He prevents it. Psalm 121 was written for those traveling uphill toward Jerusalem. The journey involved real danger, much of it unseen. It’s evident that the Psalmist’s confidence rests not in his own awareness of the danger, but rather, in his acknowledgment of God’s vigilance.
“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” Psalm 121:3
God’s care of us often shows up in the details we overlook.
Let me share a recent example. A week before a flight to the East Coast, I felt prompted to check my driver’s license—something I had no reason to think about. Well, wouldn’t you know—it had expired. Had God not prompted me to look, I would have arrived at the airport without valid identification. And with no reason to bring my passport, I would have missed the flight entirely. There was no crisis—just quiet provision, well in advance. When I renewed my license, God gave me the opportunity to share my testimony with someone He placed in my path.
This was not a coincidence. It was simply God guiding my steps. I knew it, too. I could feel His peace. And—if it had gone the other way—that is, if I’d missed my flight because I had no valid identification, then—hopefully I would have also been able to sense God’s path of peace there as well!
God is faithful to purify our desires. When we allow this, He is faithful to guide us:
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Psalm 37:23
We are “good” because God’s righteousness covers us. God orders our steps, not just our outcomes. He oversees details we forget and timing we underestimate, ensuring His purposes are not disrupted by our blind spots.
At other times, His guidance pulls us away from productivity altogether. For example, one weekend, instead of checking off more items from my endless to-do list, I felt prompted to slow down and be present—spending several unplanned hours with a couple of different people who needed encouragement. There was nothing efficient about it. In fact, it seemed like it would be very costly. Yet after spending extensive time with two different ladies—by midweek—I had the sudden realization that my immediate to-do list was completed. God had multiplied my time when I expected a shortage.
This too, was God working behind the scenes.
Psalm 121 assures us that the Lord watches over our “going out and coming in.” (v. 8) That includes our plans and our interruptions, our work and our willingness to stop working when God redirects our attention. When we walk in obedience—even in small, quiet ways—God faithfully manages what we set aside. The confidence of the born-again believer is that our lives are not random. God is not merely reacting to our decisions; He is actively leading us in ways that align with His will.
“My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2
If we surrender every area of our life to God—He will secure our path. He already secured our salvation. He does not sleep. He does not overlook details. He remembers every act of obedience. We may never know how many delays were avoided, how many missteps were prevented, or how many burdens were lifted simply because we listened to that still, small voice of God.
But we can rest in this truth: God’s children are kept by His Almighty, unseen hand.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for guiding my life in ways I do not always recognize. Thank You for ordering my steps, revealing details I overlook, and working behind the scenes when I choose obedience over efficiency. Help me remain attentive to Your Spirit and trust You with what I set aside. Help me to not be afraid to give all I am to You. I rest in the truth that I am kept by You as You carry out Your purpose in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
