(By Rachel Joyce)
Some days are harder than others. When we are struggling with difficulties, whether that be pain, grief, fear, or any of the other hardships of life, how good it is to know that our God is our refuge! The psalmist expresses this in Psalm 91:1-2, 4.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
He has a shelter for us. He intends for our hearts to be at rest in Him, but He will not force us to stay under His shadow. He will not drag us back into the “secret place of the Most High.”
It is our choice.
He has promised to shelter us with His wings, but we need to abide there. Our protection and armor are His faithful promises.
Paul reemphasizes this truth in Ephesians six, where he tells us to take up the shield of faith. That shield is what extinguishes the fiery darts of the enemy. In this battle, our only place of safety is behind the shield of faith. God will always be faithful to us. His love is constant. His protection ever available.
Victory over the enemy only comes when we trust in our God. He calls us to the life of faith. As we rest on His promises, our fears lose their power to unsettle us. His presence becomes our safe haven.
It is His desire for us to experience the peace of His presence continually. Listen to His words: “The beloved of the Lord rests in safety— the High God surrounds him all day long—the beloved rests between his shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12).
I wonder if our Lord Jesus had this verse in mind when He told the parable of the lost sheep to illustrate how the Savior seeks lost sinners. After searching ceaselessly for his lost sheep, the shepherd finally finds it and places it safely upon his shoulders. With joy and delight, he carries the sheep on his shoulders all the way home.
I am so thankful the Good Shepherd found this lost sheep and placed me upon His strong shoulders. Not only is it a place of safety, but it’s also a place of closeness, where I can hear His voice and feel the warmth of His presence. It’s a place of rest and rejoicing for He is carrying me and we are on our way home.
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