Psalm 91:14-15 – "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." (NIV)

I began training my retriever cross, Sophie, to be a helper from the time she was a pup. We often hiked the trails together in our mountain home and I felt that it was important that she could help me if I were to trip and fall or have an accident. Sophie was thus trained to respond immediately whenever I called out the word "help". This was a command that she took to heart, for no matter how interested she was in chasing a tantalizing scent, once she heard me holler "Help!", she would be at my side within seconds.

As part of her training, she also learned to lie down, sit, and stand firm, so that whether I were in a prone or semi-prone position, I could use her body as leverage to get myself back up to a standing one. Having Sophie with me day by day in all kinds of weather on all kinds of walks was a great reassurance that I would have the help necessary if I should encounter a mishap and need rescuing.

As we see in today's Scripture reading, the psalmist also had a helper Whom he could rely on in times of need: the Lord God, Who, when we make Him the centre of our lives, will even command His angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways; angels who will lift us up in their hands, so that we will not strike our foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12 NIV)

This does not mean that mishaps will never befall us; after all, we dwell in a fallen world and accidents happen. Through it all, though, God is with us. He is our ever-present help in times of trouble, there to lift us up, restore us, and get us going again. Therefore, as the psalmist has written, "we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:2-3 NIV)

Sophie is always there for me. She is always loyal and faithful; I can count on her. Even more so, however, is our God faithful and loyal, always there to be counted on, a refuge and fortress at all times for those who love and trust Him, for those who enjoy the company while walking upon the trails of life with Him.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are the most loyal and faithful of all helpers to those who place their trust in You and share the joy of walking the trails of this life together with You. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.