Psalm 31:3 (NCV) “You are my rock and my protection. For the good of your name, lead me and guide me.”
I love reading through the book of Psalms when I need to be reminded of God’s ever guiding presence and protection as I walk through this somewhat chaotic world. I find words there that describe who I am in Christ, who He is (words that describe His character) and what He offers when I come to Him. This morning, I found this example in the first verse of Psalm 31. Here, David is coming to God seeking refuge. David often prayed for God to be his refuge and deliver him from his enemies. David knew he could trust God as his refuge, and his shelter from danger and distress. David was confident he could find protection and safety in God.
In God, David was confident, safe, and protected (who I am in Christ). Why did David know this? Because David trusted God and knew He was a safe place (who God is – His character). When David sought God for protection, he knew God would guide (what God offers) him in the right direction.
The character of God hasn’t changed since David’s time. God is just as much our refuge and security today. We can find protection in Him just like David did. I was reminded of this truth this past summer. I was in my home office and began to hear thunder off in the distance. Not thinking anything of it really, I continued to work….until I heard this big clap of thunder. The sound was as if the thunder cloud was directly over my house. A second after the crack of the thunder a bolt of lightning lit up the rainy grey sky outside my window.
“Whoa, that was close!”
Immediately my black lab was at my side shaking like a leaf. She hates thunderstorms but what she has learned over the course of her life is that she can run to me for protection from the storm. We typically cover her up with a blanket and in the security of the blanket she finds peace. In the same way, I can run to God for protection and refuge from the storms of my life. He will keep me safe in His shelter and hide me in his Holy Tent (Psalm 27:5 NCV).
It is up to us to trust God completely – with everything we are and everything we have. We can be confident that God is true to His character and will deliver and protect us.
I thank God daily for the incredible people He has placed in my life. Some have been there specifically to help me become a better person and encourage me to keep going. Others are there to help me see that I am not sitting in a great big boat alone hopelessly rowing.