This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. 3 For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. - Psalm 91:2-4 NLT
Cast Your Worries
The world can often present things that strike fear into us––natural disasters, spiritual battles, conflicts. Fear and uncertainty can creep in, and they may even seem like an avoidable part of life. But God offers us the power to overcome them, providing us with a peace that surpasses all understanding. Cast your worries onto Him, knowing that He is personally protecting and guiding you through life.
Here are four truths about God’s protection you can hold onto:
1. God Strengthens Us
There is nowhere we could go and find that God isn’t there. He is present with us on our peaks and in the valleys. His strength supports us through every step of life. We read these encouraging words in Isaiah 41:10: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand” (NLT).
Whether you feel His strength today or not, the Spirit of God is moving powerfully in you and through you. Learn to be sensitive to the way He speaks, guides, and cares for you through difficult seasons.
2. God Loves Us and Is For Us
Let that truth sink into the deepest places of your heart. The God of the universe––Creator of all things under heaven and on earth––is for you, personally seeing that you are protected from harm.
And if that God is for us, who or what could stand against us (Romans 8:31)? God’s goodness and mercy fill every crevice of our lives (Psalm 23:6). Abide in the ever-present love of God and take heart that He will overcome every battle we face.
3. God Is Working In Us
We have the Spirit of God Who dwells in us. He provides the fullness of God's power and draws us into God’s infinite love. As this happens, the Spirit transforms our lives to look more like Jesus. So when anxiety strikes, we can claim, “…God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT).
It’s important to recognize that one of the main ways the Spirit helps us to overcome worry is through the Bible. Spend time with God by memorizing Scripture, keeping it close to your heart, and recalling it anytime trouble arises. The Word of God is active––as it fills our minds, God will work on our hearts.
4. God Is With Us
God's protection doesn’t mean we won’t go through hard times (James 1:2). But it does mean He will walk through the fire with us, ensuring that we come out the other side more refined.
When we know the nearness of God, worry falls away (Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Peter 5:6-7). God will not abandon us (Psalm 37:8; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5), so we can live in boldness. If God gave His only Son to save us, we can have faith that He will continue to protect us as we live for Him.
Possible Next Steps for Protection Concerns
- Bring your decisions to God. Before you make plans, talk with Him through prayer and learn what He tells us in His Word.
- Spend time casting all your fears and concerns on Him by consistently making your needs known in prayer. Include a time of thanksgiving.
- Memorize Scriptures that comfort your heart and strengthen your mind.
- Connect to a local church, pray with others, and serve the Body.
If your safety is in question, contact the local authorities, and seek immediate help.
If you want prayer or to talk about your current situation, we welcome you to call our Pastoral Care Team at 800-525-5683.
Additional Scriptures on Protection and Safety:
For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. – Psalm 91:11
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:29-32
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong…The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. – Romans 13:4,12
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. – James 1:27
Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. – Hebrews 13:17
Looking for more encouragement?
In the Shadow of the Almighty: Trusting God for Protection
Excerpt: The voice of God booms––brilliant light blankets the land. The darkness is driven back, but it is not yet gone, only hiding. Waiting for its moment to push back. Though the darkness would not overcome the light, it would try.
Centuries later, Jesus is teaching His followers. He points at a small collection of houses and shops lining the hilltop in the distance. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” As carriers of the light of Christ, we are to shine in the darkness, offering solace to weary travelers. A glowing beacon of hope.
