Psalm 91:1-16 (NIV)
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The Lord Is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Reflection:
A day in the life of an African American trials that others wouldn’t/couldn’t understand are plentiful. There are times where it feels as though the world is doing what it can to fight against you, and you’re left in a constant battle for your humanity. From a young age, evidence comes from all around showing just how dangerous this world can be; just for showing up as yourself and being you. Seeing the current state of the world, the amount of hate and racism that runs rampant and how it is systemically layered in our country, is saddening. As an African American, it sometimes fills me with a sense of helplessness that feels as though nothing can change. But, then I remember Psalm 91.

Psalm 91 has been an anchor for me my entire life. My family has always taught me to live completely by these words. It is a passage that we hold close to our hearts. And now that I am married, my wife and I live by these words. Psalm 91 holds words of protection by our heavenly father, and it shows us favor in God’s presence. To some, it speaks to spiritual battles and adversities, but to African Americans like myself, this passage has a deeper meaning. This passage speaks of resounding peace. It is God telling us that no matter what life throws at us, no amount of racism or hate can stop God’s love for us. As we wake up every day, it feels as though we must be prepared to face scrutiny from anyone and everyone just for the color of our skin. Perhaps you have felt this way too. In a world like this, we can do nothing but trust in the Lord and the words God provides for us in Psalm 91. This verse gives us protection, comfort, and most of all hope; hope that one day as a nation we will take the steps to understand the fears and hurts of our brothers and sisters of color. Then, we will one day come together in unified love and understanding and see the Kingdom of God come to earth as it is in heaven.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Father Lord, I come to you, asking for peace and understanding among your children. I pray that we all begin to lean into empathy for others and seek to mend the division among us. May we stand hand-in-hand and walk together, praising your name. We trust you Lord and love you. We thank you for all that you do for us and we put all our hope in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.