Psalm 139:5 “You have hedged me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.”

It was a delightful girl’s getaway until it wasn’t. It didn’t matter that my daughter was technically an adult, she was still my child and my mother’s instinct told me something was wrong. So, there I stood at our pre-arranged meeting spot, long past our pre-arranged meeting hour, and became more anxious by the moment. Where could she be?

Too much time had passed. Due to poor planning, I did not have my phone. Panic set in as I watched couples walk hand in hand, families push baby strollers, and bicycle riders come and go, all oblivious that I stood there on the verge of tears.

My daughter was missing.

As the minutes ticked away, I paced, took deep cleansing breaths, and wrung my hands till they were red. Yet, no sign of her.

After what seemed a lifetime, I approached a man sitting quietly on a bench bordered by a long, tall hedgerow. I explained to him my crisis, and taking pity on me, he graciously handed over his phone. But before I could press the first digit, my daughter called out to me from somewhere on the opposite side of the hedge. She had recognized her mother’s voice. Soon from around the far end of the long hedgerow she emerged and neither of us took thought to those who witnessed our reunion of laughter and tears.

It seemed we had been searching for each other from opposite sides of a massive hedge. And although we stood only a short distance apart, the long, tall, and thick hedgerow kept us from finding each other.

My mind reverts to that day every time I read Psalm 139 where the psalmist writes, “You (God) have hedged me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.” The writer knew what my daughter and I learned; how long, tall, and thick a hedgerow can grow.

What a great metaphor of God’s care of His children. Like a massive hedge, God’s thoughts and ways tower high over us. The width of His love cannot be measured. The length of His truth guides and protects all generations. His love surrounds us.

So next time you see a mighty hedge, stop a moment to reflect on God’s loving presence. (And should you be searching for someone, prior to panicking, remember to look on the other side of the hedge!)

Father God, may we see your mighty hedge surrounding us.

Rita Cochrane