18-Wheelers and Texas Sun

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. (Psalm 121:1-7 ESV).

We’ve had a few days of bright cloudless skies recently in North Texas. The great thing about that for me was the drive to work on both days were pleasant and warm. I have a forty-five minute drive to my office in Arlington, and, while the heater works great in my truck, I always enjoy the warmth of the sun more. The temperature can be as much as ten degrees warmer with the sun shining than not. That’s great in the cool winter, however in the dead heat of summer, it can be more than the cooling system can deal with very quickly. I was taken back to an experience I have had many times on the interstate when driving beside an 18-wheeler. They can cast a big shadow. In the heat it can mean an immediate drop in temperature in my vehicle. And that took me to our reading today. The refreshing and restorative power of shade isn’t new. David writes about it there. He knew what it was like to sit for hours in the Judean sun watching his sheep graze. He also knew the value of a well-placed shade tree or drifting cloud. Perhaps this is why he described God as “the shade at your right hand.” What a beautiful picture of God. When the glare of our circumstances distorts our perspective, the shade of his presence enables us to see with clarity. When the heat of trials threatens to incinerate us, God’s presence cools the flames. When the blazing rays of difficulty beat down upon our heads, God positions himself between us, refusing to let them consume us. If you’re feeling the heat of a difficult circumstance now, pull on up next to God’s shade. Ride a while with him as you shade. Allow him to refresh you by spending time in his Word; and, rest under the protective covering of prayer. Take refuge in the shadow of his presence, knowing that he watches over you. Here’s another bit of Scripture to encourage you: For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down. (Isaiah 24:4-5 ESV).