As I sit in the hospital cafeteria typing this, amid the hustle and bustle of the lunch crowd, I feel God’s presence. With the rays of sunshine through the window, I feel God’s presence. As I watch my newborn son on the webcam in his NICU room, I feel God’s presence. When I see my husband hold our son, I feel God’s presence. When we sing him hymns, I feel God’s presence. When I hold my son, I feel God’s presence. 

A few weeks before I gave birth, a man at my church, whom I highly respect, spoke with me after church. He spoke words of encouragement to me, prayed with me, and also told me to read Psalm 91 until the words were in my heart. I don’t think either one of us knew exactly why God had him tell me those things then, but sitting here now, I know. After my husband brought me to the hospital for the pain I was having late in my pregnancy, I clung to the words of Psalm 91. I read them several times daily and use them as part of my daily prayers.

Read Psalm 91 below and find peace there with me. 

Psalm 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you

from the Fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings, you will find refuge;

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by the day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday. 

A thousand may fall at your side, 

ten thousand at your right hand, 

but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes

And see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” 

And you make the Most High your dwelling, 

no harm will overtake you, 

no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you 

to guard you in all your ways; 

they will lift you in their hands, 

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra;

 you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

With a long life, I will satisfy him 

and show him my salvation.”

No matter what you are facing, even if you don’t understand why you are going through it, God is with you. Cling to that and find hope in that.