my defender
Do you feel exposed? Defenseless? Vulnerable?
As our nation and world journey through the midst of a pandemic with the COVID-19 virus, there’s a lot of fear and uncertainty.
And it is easy to experience these emotions. Everything is going into lockdown mode. Schools are closing, grocery stores are rapidly selling out of household cleaners and food, and large gatherings are cancelled.
This, unseen to the eye, illness is running rampant, and it’s holding us captive as we struggle to break free.
This situation, and even personal circumstances, are hard. Painful. Uncomfortable.
If there’s one thing this virus has taught us, or even our own personal challenges, is that circumstances will rise up against us. John 16:33 reminds us “in this world you will have trouble.”
We can’t escape hardship.
However, the outlook we choose to take and the thoughts we fill our minds with will dictate how we perceive the situation.
It can be easy to feel vulnerable, helpless, and held captive. Our minds have a way of running through thoughts when circumstances are difficult.
But!
There is a confidence and truth to be spoken, because those feelings and thoughts do not define us or the situation.
We have a mighty God!
And He invites us to call on Him to protect, defend, and deliver us. Through the Holy Spirit’s power at work inside of us, we have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, split wide the Red Sea, made the lame walk, and the blind to see.
We see these feelings play out for David in Psalm 3:1-8.
If you’re not familiar with David’s life, let me give you a quick synopsis.
He was not liked by the king of Israel, Saul, because David was going to take his place as king one day due to God’s intervention.
As a result, Saul spent much time plotting and trying to carry out a way to kill David, which meant David was on the run.
He was one man up against Saul’s army. He had every right to feel exposed, unable to defend himself, and stuck in a terrible situation. But he recounts who God is and what He is capable of doing!
“Lord, how many are my foes. How many rise up against me. Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord. Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.”
David acknowledges that his circumstances are rough. There are many people literally rising up against him, thinking David will not make it out alive and God will not come to his rescue.
But! There is that wonderful “…but” in the passage.
David knows the capabilities of his God despite the situation at hand. And that is because David chooses to reflect on the truth!
The Lord is a shield of protection, his glory, the One who holds his head high! It is the Lord who sustains. And David displayed absolute confidence in God striking down his enemies.
Those who are against the Lord will be destroyed. But there will be deliverance and blessing for those who have put their faith in God.
God provides us with a confident trust and lifts our head high, because we have hope in Him protecting His children.
Notice how David does not discredit the situation. He acknowledges thousands coming from every angle. There is no reason to fear, though, because God is a God of deliverance.
And if you need another reminder of this, check out 2 Kings 6:15 – 17. It’s an awesome story of how God surrounds His people, quite literally with chariots of fire, as the enemy army approaches.
And to top it off, Psalm 91 is a declaration of safety from the Lord and deliverance when pestilence comes our way.
Pestilence? What in the world does that mean?
The definition is this: a deadly disease or epidemic.
The Bible speaks directly to what our world is facing right now!
You may feel vulnerable, but you have a mighty protector.
You may feel helpless, but you have a defender.
You may feel like a captive, but you have a rescuer and deliverer.
May these words of truth ring loud in your ear today, friend. You are not alone. You have the greatest defender on your side. A shield of protection despite the circumstances surrounding you.
~Laura