He who dwells in the
shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1
I was hiking in Yosemite in late winter, inching my way up to the top of the majestic Yosemite Falls. It had snowed the day before and little white nests of crystallized snow rested in the branches of the trees. As the sun warmed the air, the nests would shift and let loose a small cascade of shimmering diamonds that made a magical musical sound as they filtered through the branches of giant redwoods and the brittle leaves of the spreading oaks. Sometimes the crescendo would make a finale on our heads or even down our necks, causing us to dance in wet laughter.
We were moving toward the towering granite wall that makes Yosemite Falls so majestic. We could feel the presence of that granite looming over us as we hiked in its morning shadow. We were walking along it and coming closer to it with every switchback. At times we could see through the trees a clear view of the granite wall until finally we came right up to it.
I ran my hand across the strong cold stone and my eyes traced the rock up towards the sky for thousands of feet. Reverence and awe overcame me as I slipped into another realm. I was both metaphorically and literally in the shadow of the Almighty. Here all things are possible, and all things are safely dangerous.
Because you have made
the LORD your dwelling place
— the Most High, who is my refuge–
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
Psa 91:9-10
This is the place I want to live and abide. When I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I am also in the shadow of the Almighty. Anything that touches me has to come into that shadow as well. Any scheme of the enemy? It has to either lure me out of the shadow, or risk entering in to that majestic secret place where it is completely seen and eclipsed by the Most High. Bold move to which my Keeper already has a plan in place.
My sole job is to abide here, to dwell in this place of utter majesty and delight. Like the shadow of El Capitan expands and extends across Yosemite Valley as the sun sets; when I go out for the day the shadow of the Almighty just gets longer, continuing to protect and shelter me. I can stay in His shadow constantly.
“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”(vs2) When I live in this place and have this mindset, I will not fear anything that comes at me by day or night. (vs5) I can enjoy the journey of life, delighted with the beauty of the trail and the cascades of His presence.
