Nothing will harm you
by Tatiana Overduin
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I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).
In this scriptural text, we read in verse 1 that Jesus sends those he had appointed, two by two, ahead of him ‘to every town and place he was about to go’. And though these ‘workers of the harvest’ are commissioned by him, he nevertheless warns them all that it will be dangerous work. Jesus commands in verse 3 to ‘Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves’. When depending only on ourselves, this does present a terrifying image fraught with pain and suffering.
In my life, I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to have experienced travelling to many different countries, sometimes with a loved one, sometimes alone. One place that was very interesting was working as the resident volunteer craftworker in 2008 for eight weeks on the Island of Iona. I met many interesting people and took advantage of exploring the beautiful Scottish culture and country.
But as much as the experience was interesting and allowed me to grow in my faith in God, it was just as frightening to be away from family and my safe, familiar life back home. A favourite Scripture text I held close to my heart during this travel experience was Psalm 91. This psalm was a great comfort to me, but one line didn’t quite make sense until the very end of my journey. In verse 13 of this psalm, the text writes, ‘you will trample the great lion and the serpent’.
This line is not dissimilar to today’s focus verse in Luke 10:19. ‘I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.’
I embarked on that journey, trusting God would shelter me under his wings and bring me safely home again. But in my last days in Scotland, as I faced uncertainty about my journey home because of a booking error, at that very moment, I saw beneath my feet serpents, dragons and snakes imprinted into the ancient Scottish cobblestones. Immediately, my faith was reassured that all would be well. It was not because of anything I did to correct the issue but because of God’s authority over my life and his promises. Today’s scriptural passage, therefore, encourages us that at whatever point of our life journey we find ourselves in, we can trust in Jesus, who has trampled death itself.
Lord, thank you for reminding us that we need not be afraid when confronted by life’s challenges but rather be reassured daily when we place our trust in your holy word, in your comforting promise and say, ‘Nothing will harm us.’ Amen.
Tatiana is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. She lives in Largs North, a seaside location in Adelaide, and has two adult children and six grandchildren. She continues to teach English, History and Religion full-time at a secondary Catholic College. Prior to her teaching degree, she qualified with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Australian Lutheran College (ALC) in 1996, as one of the early groups of female students to graduate from ALC. She enjoys a variety of crafts, art, gardening, singing, writing and swimming.
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