For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12 (NKJV)

I was sitting with my family in church today, the Pastor leading worship, arms and hearts lifted, and our pastor preaching about looking “vertical” to Jesus instead of the “horizontal” struggles around us. As I glanced up at the rafters, a thought hit me ~ are there angels up there, watching over us? It wasn’t the first time I felt this.

A couple of years back, during a Bible study prayer meeting I led, we started talking about angels. I shared my belief that angels were visiting our new church, checking out this fresh fellowship we’d started. The room went quiet, a holy hush fell, and an amazing presence filled the room. We all bowed our heads, singing and praying through it. Was it angels? The Holy Spirit? Maybe both. But I know God’s got His eyes ~ and His angels ~ on us.

One of my favourite books by Billy Graham, called “Angels: God’s Secret Agents”, writes, “Believers, look up—take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.” Scripture backs this up. Hebrews 1:14 calls angels “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.” These aren’t the winged seraphim of Isaiah 6:2, hovering around God’s throne, or the cherubim guarding the Ark in Exodus 25:20. They’re God’s messengers, often unseen or looking like ordinary folk like us, Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels”, quietly guiding, protecting, encouraging and comforting us. That moment in the rafters, and the one in our Bible study, reminds me they’re close, maybe perched above our pews, joining our worship, watching our pastor as he points us to Jesus.

This is a fantastic passage, think of Elisha in 2 Kings 6:17 surrounded by enemies. His servant panicked, but Elisha prayed, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Suddenly, the servant saw “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha”; Elisha understood that God’s angelic army was much more powerful than any visible force.

Our church, like Elisha, faces challenges. We’re a new fellowship, building a community in Glasgow, with joys and struggles. Yet, just as angels guarded Elisha, they’re protecting us. That quiet, powerful presence I felt in our Bible study a few years ago? It’s a sign God’s angels are here, not drawing attention to themselves, as Graham notes, but glorifying Jesus and strengthening our faith.

Another book, which I have read many times and often revisit, is called “Angels on the Walls” by Wallace and Mary Brown, and it tells a similar story. In Birmingham, their church was surrounded by crime and vandalism, barricaded by barbed wire. They fasted, prayed, and trusted God. The community began turning to Christ, and the Browns saw God’s hand, maybe even His angels, transforming lives.

Our church on Woodland Road, Glasgow, isn’t so different. We’re a beacon of hope, with angels watching over us, encouraging us to trust God’s provision and love, no matter what comes.

What does this mean for us? First, take courage, it’s hard not to flap. The angels in our rafters aren’t just spectators; they’re sent to serve us, Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

Whether you’re a member, a visitor, or just showing up to worship, God’s got His angels on duty. Second, look up. Our pastor is right today: keep your eyes on Jesus, not the struggles. Those angels are pointing us to Him, just as they did when I felt their presence.

So, next time you’re in church, glance at the rafters. You might not see wings or halos, but trust that God’s angels are nearer than you think, watching over our church family.

Let’s pray, sing, and worship like they’re right there with us—because they are.