I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore. (Psalm 121:1-8 NKJV)
As I write this I am reflecting on the year of 2025.
At the beginning of the year, I arranged the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” for a four-part women’s ensemble to sing at a women’s conference in January. In October I played that song on piano as my dad played his trumpet with me, not knowing it would be the last time we played together. In December we sang it at his funeral. I remember thinking that this year was “hemmed” by this song of faith.
Now I am preparing to play my 103 year-old grandmother’s funeral. Unlike my dad’s unexpected death, her body had been slowly fading for the 2 1/2 years she was in hospice care, and finally she was released from this life and into the next. When she was in good health, my grandmother had chosen songs for her funeral – and even mailed me copies of what she wanted played. I was relieved to know that none of what she wanted we had chosen for Dad’s funeral – the emotions are still too raw to do them again. But, she chose great hymns of faith, too – “My Tribute,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” and “America the Beautiful.”
She also chose a gorgeous spiritual I have never heard before, “We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace,” based on Psalm 23:4:
We shall walk through the valley in peace;
We shall walk through the valley in peace;
If Jesus Himself shall be our Leader,
We shall walk through the valley in peace.
There will be no sorrow there;
There will be no sorrow there.
If Jesus Himself shall be our Leader,
We shall walk through the valley in peace.
There will be no dying there;
There will be no dying there.
If Jesus Himself shall be our Leader,
We shall walk through the valley in peace.*
Lest you think, 2025 was awful, I will recognize that this year was not without its high points. Our oldest and his wife celebrated a year of marriage, our second-born graduated high school and received a job promotion, our twins earned their drivers licenses and started their desired programs at the local vocational high school. I had a fantastic, meaningful, and beautiful week with my best friend from graduate school, and God did amazing things at the week-long summer arts camp. Much of this year was “average to good,” and for that, I am very grateful.
For today, as we each reflect upon 2025 and spiritually prepare for 2026, may we remember God’s great faithfulness in all things. Whether we are in a high or a low, our Father’s faithfulness is great to us. He doesn’t change, his compassions don’t fail, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thanks be to God!
Great is your faithfulness, God. Every morning we see your new mercies, knowing that everything we need, you have provided. Thank you that our help comes from you, our keeper and shade, who preserves us from evil, from this time forth and forevermore. As we close out this calendar year and move into the next, help us remember that your faithfulness and your peace go with us everywhere we go. Thank you that in all things we can claim, “It is well with my soul,” because you are our Good Shepherd who leads us, restores us, and gives us all we need. Bless us and keep us; make your face shine upon us, and grant us your peace. We pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NASB)
*https://hymnary.org/text/there_will_be_no_sorrow_there