The Bible is very clear that God is our Protector and Defender. Some Bible verses that emphatically drive this point home include:
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” – Psalm 18:2 NLT
“But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.” – Psalm 3:3 NLT
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” – Psalm 46:1 NLT
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” – Isaiah 43:2 NLT
From these passages we apprehend the truth that God protects us, watches over us, and delivers us through the most intense moments of trouble. This is a deep comfort to the believer—it reminds us that no matter what we are going through, we do not have to fear it, because God is with us and He is mighty to save.
God’s Protection in the Bible
Many moments in Scripture show us this truth in action. For example, when Noah and his family were on the Ark, the Bible says God shut the doors to the Ark and sealed them in, implying that God was putting His seal of protection over the giant wooden vessel (Genesis 7:16). Another example is when Daniel’s friends were thrown in the fiery furnace while suffering in Babylonian captivity. God showed up in the fire with them so that they were not burned (Daniel 3:19-27). And yet one more example, when the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked and bit by a venomous snake, God preserved his life (Acts 27-28). This kind of holy protection is awe-inspiring and causes us to lift our voices in praise to the Almighty King!
What About When We Don’t Feel God’s Protection?
Yet there is a serious question that needs pondering…how do we make sense of moments where we don’t feel like we see God’s protection? What about the moments in life where a friend goes through a harrowing car wreck and suffers serious injury? What about the moments in war when a soldier takes a bullet and returns home in a casket? What about the moments when a neighbor’s dog gets off the chain and bites someone’s hand and causes injury and trauma? These are important questions to ask. So where do we see God’s protection here?
Jesus tells us that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), so we should never understand God’s protective grace as a “get-out-of-hardships free” card. The reality is this: every earthly protection God has ever given was really to point us to the ultimate spiritual protection which is guaranteed to all believers. The preservation of Noah’s family, Daniel’s friends, and the Apostle Paul…these were to foreshadow the greater reality that God will protect our souls so that we will live forever with Him in the glory of heaven. The ultimate protection He gives us is freedom from the grip and sting of death.
Ultimate, Eternal Protection
When we put our faith in Jesus, we are protected in this ultimate way, to the point where Jesus says, “Everyone who believes in Me will never ever die” (John 11:26 NLT). He protects our soul so that we are completely freed from death, and we simply pass from this life to life eternal. This is the perfect protective grace of God!
Here is our call to action: Let us live fearlessly. Our ultimate foe and fear has been crushed under the mighty foot of Jesus. We are protected from the sting of death, and therefore we truly have nothing to fear. Let us walk this life with courage, and share this good news of freedom from fear with everyone we meet.
Prayer
God, thank You for saving and protecting my soul from all harm. Surround me with Your angels, shelter me from the storms of life, and keep me free from fear. You are a good and awesome God. I trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Related Resource: How to Pray Psalm 91 Over My Life
