A Pilgrim on a Journey

I'm loving this Psalm right now...

Psalm 121
A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
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.

Im learning how it was actually sung by Jews who were making their way to Jerusalem for various feasts and festivals. The literal references to a journey are everywhere - feet, sun, coming and going. I love imagining God's faithful on that trip to the promised land, trusting him for safe travels.

But I don't think that a literal journey it all this is talking about. I'm continually learning about the journey-ness of life. There are so many things I want to do and be and am just not "there" yet. And won't be this side of Heaven. Sometimes just putting one foot in front of another is all I can do. Acknowledging the journey is key for me. Its okay for me to be unfinished, in process. As Shawna Neiquist puts it, "I imagine God noticing all the things about me that should get fixed up one day, and loving me anyway and being okay with the mess for the time being." Exactly.

Then there's trusting God with the journey. Acknowledging the journey only gets me so far. I'm such a planner, such a security-lover. Where will Josh work? Where will we live? Will we have a family someday? I'm slooowly working on, as I walk through life, trusting the One who does not slumber or sleep, who watches over me now and forever. I don't like the phrase, "let go and let God" as I think you can take that one too far. But working on trusting God for the next step, and for his continuing presence and guidance, is what I'm doing right now. I know there will be bumps and bruises as I travel, but God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, promises never to leave or forsake me.