Skip to main content

Harm

             The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)

Harm: physical or mental damage : injury (HARM Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster)

The Lord will keep you from all harm. I’ve no doubt there are people who consider that statement proof that God is a liar or doesn’t exist. After all people, even Christians, are harmed every day. Probably every second. If God is going to keep us from all harm, doesn’t that mean no splinters, no bumps, scrapes, bruises, common colds, addictions, cancers, disappointed romances, unplanned pregnancies, lost jobs, less than perfect evaluations, etc.? Who gets to decide what constitutes harm?

If preventing the harm of bruised knees or embarrassment requires that a child be prevented from trying to learn to walk, then not doing a small harm does a greater harm. The same is true if of many other kinds of harm, including some that seem horrible. Preventing harm can cause greater harm. The only way to avoid all harm (according to the definition of some) would be for us to not exist at all, which would be the greatest harm that can be done to us. We instinctively understand that, most of the time. But then someone raises an objection, or we or someone else we love faces “harm” that we think crosses some line, it’s hard. We’re tempted to lodge a complaint to God, or even storm Heaven with a raised fist. And we should. God isn’t afraid of our tempers. I’m not suggesting we be rude to God, but that we be honest with Him.

It’s hard when we hurt to understand that we aren’t being harmed, or aren’t being harmed as much as we would be if the harm were withheld. Surgery causes harm, but may save us from cancer. Great good has come from what we would call harm. So, the promise is kept even when we are tempted to believe it is not. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more