Who has your back?

Just finished a youth group program using a clip from the film, The Blind Side.  A movie well worth watching.
The youth group, leaders and I brainstormed what it means to say, "I've got your back."

As you might expect, we talked about trust, caring, support, empathy, safety and comfort.  We talked about how important it is to have people who are actively supporting us, folks we can truly count upon to be with and for us.

I asked the group to go off by themselves and list those persons they believe have their backs and whose backs they have and watch over.

Then we looked at Psalm 138:7-8 and Psalm 139.  I asked them to simply circle the verses that speak to them about God "having our backs."

Through all this conversation, it reminded me how crucial community with one another and with God is for our very survival and well-being.  Such community is what frees us from a sense of aloneness, isolation, and despair.

One translation for Psalm 139:5 is "You pursue me,  behind and before, and lay your hand upon me."

So as you read this reflection on our journey with each other and God, consider:
             Where have you sensed God's pursuit of you?
              Who has your back?
              Who depends upon you to have their back?