He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. – Psalm 91:4 NLT
I remember crouching down under the seat and trying hard to curl my 16-year-old body into a perfect ball so the people running and shooting wouldn’t see me. The noise got louder as it moved from one side of the street to the other. We waited in the car outside while my dad locked up the church.
As my mother and I listened to the shouting and gunfire, we started to pray for safety and protection. This was the first time I realized how important the Lord’s defense is in times of danger and conflict. When we started praying, there was no denying the peace that came into that car. It was the scariest moment of my life, but it was the start of a marvelous testimony of God’s protection.
In times of trouble and fear, God’s Word gives us a promise of safety. Even though we can’t choose when or how He helps us, we can count on Him being a reliable and powerful protector.
2 Kings 6:8–20 is one of my favorite examples of spiritual protection that became real. It looked like the enemy was bigger and had more people than Elisha and his soldiers. The Lord helped him in the spirit, which gave him confidence and set him up for later success. He saw God’s protection and faithfulness as a miracle rescue from heaven. God doesn’t promise that we won’t have trouble or fights, but He does say that if we seek refuge in Him, He will protect us and take care of us through it.
Maybe you have an enemy that makes you feel more scared than ever. It could be an unexpected diagnosis or a coworker who tells lies and pushes you to your emotional limits. You should remember a few things about God’s promise to protect you, no matter your trouble.
1. Physical protection doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt or things won’t get hard. Jesus said we would have trouble. Still, He has overcome the world and remained sinless for us, so we can take heart and be brave in the face of trouble because our safety is in Him, not in the situation. (John 16:33)
2. Physical protection can come in a variety of ways. Sometimes it can be a miracle that saves you from danger, or it can come from your careful obedience while you are in danger. (Revelation 3:10-11)
3. Physical protection is the outworking of spiritual protection. A foundation of trust in God will give you the proper perspective and help you have uncommon peace in dangerous situations. (Psalm 91:14-16)
Dig Deeper
1. Read Psalm 91:1-4, 14-16. List three promises from God’s Word that you can rely on as armor and protection.
2. Reflect on where the protection of the Lord has helped you overcome challenging circumstances. Share these experiences with someone that is facing a fearful enemy.
