Psalm 119:109 | “I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.”

The psalmist speaks honestly about the constant danger that accompanies a life of faith. His life is held in his hand, exposed and vulnerable, easily lost. He has not hidden his devotion to the Lord or softened his obedience for the sake of safety. He has lived openly according to God’s law, even when faithfulness placed him at risk. We often live as though we are beyond harm, but the truth is that nothing in this world is truly secure. Matthew Henry captures this sobering reality well: “So it is true of us all; wherever we are we lie exposed to the strokes of death; what we carry in our hands is easily snatched away from us by violence, or if sandy, as our life is, it easily of itself slips through our fingers.” And yet the psalmist testifies that danger has not triumphed. In the face of real threat, he has not forgotten God’s law. His life may be fragile, but his loyalty is firm. Those who are in Christ live exposed to danger, yet dwell in the safest place in the universe. Remembering that the Son of God entered our frailty, may we live with the peace and joy that accompany Christian confidence, knowing that our lives are not ultimately held in our own hands, but securely kept in the hands of our forever faithful God.