“For He will command His Angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” Psalm 91:11
While vacationing with my family in Washington D.C. one summer, we did a vast amount of walking. At certain times, it was necessary to carry our youngest child. One such moment as I carried her in front of me, my purse swung over my shoulder, across my body, but positioned behind me. I felt fairly secure that since my purse was on and across me, I had nothing to fear.
At lunch, my husband warned me to be careful about my bag, suggesting I keep it in front of me. While lagging a few feet behind me with one of our other daughters he had observed a younger man trailing me and eyeing my purse. Without alarming our girls, my husband hurried forward and kept in step next to this young man, finally catching his eye.
That young man suddenly did an about-face and walked the other direction.
I was stunned.
“Why did you not signal me,” I asked him.
“Oh, I had you,” he answered ever-so-confidently.
How often does God protect us, and we never even know it?
How often do I, how often do you, claim the promise in Psalm 91 for ourselves?
Because that is what it is: a promise.
“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. you will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. ‘Because he loves me’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him and show him my salvation.’
Our faith will not obliterate consequences of willful disobedience. But, here is some of what it will do.
No matter where we go, what we do, if we acknowledge God, his angels will serve to protect us. God is all-powerful; He can protect us from anything. That does not mean we rely on our own strength, we must rely on God.
He will rescue us, because we love him.
Rescue.
Protect.
That does not mean that we will never experience anything bad in our lives. But God will get us out of bad situations. He will protect us from things far worse than what we experience. Maybe from a flat tire in a downpour, maybe from being alone while suffering a heart attack; the possibilities are endless. The bottom line is this: whatever we face today, tomorrow, whenever, God will rescue us from it. He will somehow find some way to take care of us. Nothing is too difficult for Him.
And just as my husband protected me without my knowledge, often God protects us when we didn’t even know we are in danger! And when we do see danger, we know we can confidently call on Him.
So the next mountain we face, let’s remember: God is truly there, and He will protect and rescue us, providing a way out.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, How easily I forget Your promises, especially when I might need them most. Please help me recall them. Thank You that You do take care of me and that I am never beyond Your grasp. Thank You that You love me so much You command Your angels to protect me and care for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.