June 13, 2026 - Psalms 121-125

I read an article, this morning, about liberals vs. conservatives.  Now, I know that labels of this type can be unhelpful or misused.  Also, of course, much of this is anecdotal, and people are just different.  But the writer was pointing out that liberals, who demand change and change and more change, tend to awaken each morning with feelings of angst, believing that the world is falling apart around them, nothing is right, etc.  And, so, they live their lives with a foreboding sense of adversity, seemingly always unhappy about something (if not everything).  Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to awaken with a sense of joy and eager anticipation, resting in the solid convictions and foundations that have enriched the world over generations.  Knowing that the world is far from perfect, yet, this person is generally joyful and positive.  Now, someone might argue, “Well, the conservative has reason to be positive.  He was born with a silver spoon of sorts in his mouth, and he just wants to keep what he has.  The liberal person so often is the downtrodden, always struggling with day to day life, and hoping for something better.”  There is some truth in this argument; however, it does not account for the many well-to-do liberals who seem miserable nor the many hard scrabble conservatives who live life with joy.  

For living life with joy and hope, may I just quote Psalm 121 for today’s Daily Word?  The psalmist informs us, by his testimony, how one can live with great hope and joy even in the midst of life’s trials.

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.

 The LORD will keep

      your going out and your coming in

      from this time forth and forevermore.   –Psalm 121:1-8