Psalm 31:15 “My times are in Your hands.”

David wrote this Psalm 31 passage when he was being attacked by his enemies and facing many challenges. In this verse, David expresses that he relies on God’s protection, that his life is in God’s hands and that God is in charge of all of his circumstances.

This verse speaks to me after an accident that left me with a spinal cord injury. It made me shiver to hear from my Harborview physical therapy team and my neurosurgeon that if the injury had been ½ inch higher, I would be a quadriplegic, and that even now, I should be partially paralyzed due to the severity of the injury. I attribute the lack of serious repercussions to my daily exercise program, the love and support of friends and mainly to God’s divine protection. I still have some issues from my accident, but feel totally at peace, knowing that God, who knows each of us so completely that “the very hairs of our heads are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30), was right there with me during my accident. There is nothing that can happen to me outside of His will. All aspects of my life are under God’s control and care. And “all things work together for good to those that love God” (Romans 8:28). What perfect peace that gives me.

The theme of this year’s Advent devotional comes from John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (NIV). We can only have that peace when we know that God never lets anything happen to us, as believers, outside of His perfect will. I hope that each of you has that perfect peace, knowing that our times, each of our days, are in His hands.

Diane Perman