Protected

I grew up in the days of china cabinets. Behind the doors and glass, precious and valuable things were kept. There they would not be bumped, and thus chipped or broken, and their finishes would be protected from dirt and dust. This was the life of fine china and precious figurines.

As a new believer, that was my picture of being protected by God. I would be protected from things that would hurt or harm me. "No evil shall be allowed to befall me, no plague come near my tent" (Psalm 91:10). I learned my place in Christ. According to Ephesians 2:7, I have a measure of authority because I am seated in Christ “far above rulers, principalities and powers.” And I would verbally take my place in Christ. Even today, "I plead Your kingdom rule and authority over my life, my family, and my domain" is my daily prayer. And there are innumerable things, people, and circumstances, both known and unknown, that God has filtered out of my life. I am living in a Psalm 91 reality.

But there is another reality. It’s the 1 Peter 4:12 reality. “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you." Since 2020, this reality has been my home. Honestly, at times it seems to overshadow the Psalm 91 reality. A former pastor’s wife and their child were murdered by a family member. These people were not strangers; we had joyfully attended their wedding, and they had eaten in our home. A childhood friend who introduced my husband and I was murdered by her adopted son. Another dear couple's son was murdered by a stranger. Last month, our good friend in ministry literally fell dead and left behind a grieving wife. Many of us are dwelling in the day of fiery trails.

Really God? Where’s the Psalm 91 protection? It feels like I was rudely picked up out of the china cabinet and thrown forcefully to the ground. What’s the good news in all of this? 

To quote a popular Christian ad campaign, the good news is “He Gets Us." He gets us because He's literally been to hell, separated from His Father He loved, with nails in his hands and feet, and the weight of the world's sin on Him. My suffering can't compare, though He's not dismissing it but is tender and near to my broken heart. We may not be saved from the fiery trials, but through and by His marvelous grace meeting us in our pain, we can come out unsinged.  

My heart goes to the story of Stephen—his soul was kept as he was being stoned, and he saw the very glory of God. Jesus guards our souls, and His promise for us who are in Him is that our souls shall prosper (Psalm 25:12-13)! The core of who we are in Christ cannot be touched; unfailing hope is our eternal inheritance! 

We live in two realities: the Psalm 91 reality and 1 Peter reality. Sometimes, we are protected from fiery trials; other times, we are protected through them. But in the land of the living, we have the promise that He restores our souls. May it be said of us, “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good (1 Peter 4:19).”