Bam!
Whatever hit my car — hit hard. It came out of nowhere. With no car ahead of me and only a couple of branches overhead, I couldn’t figure out where it came from.
But, what I did see, clear as a day, was the ding on my windshield. What hit, left its mark.
Many of us, get hit this way. Something comes from out-of-nowhere and leaves a mark.
Conflicts. Bam!
Arguments. Bam!
Defeat. Bam!
Issues. Financial problems. Health issues. Rejection. Bam! Bam! Bam!
Any way you cut it, the damage feels real. It tears up your insides. It leaves you with regret. It makes you horribly sad. Now you’re looking around you, saying, “How did I end up here? Why is it so hard?”
I understand those feelings. What I also understand, is this:
“My God is my protection and with Him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; He defends me and keeps me safe.” (Ps. 18:2)
You know, I can’t help but think how that rock, or whatever it was that hit me, without a barrier, could have hit me far worse. It could have ripped open my leg or slammed into my face. It could have sent me to the hospital…that is…if a shield was not present. But a shield was present: a windshield.
God is our shield. We may not always see His cover, but His protection is real.
God shields us in ways we cannot conceive or perceive. As a Father, He protects His young. As a Shepherd, He leaves the 99 to chase down the one at-risk child. As the Deliverer, he invaded the world to save us from eternal death.
Yes, there is pain for a moment but our lifetime reward is greater. The damage appears bad, but God knows how to, miraculously, make good come — out of the horribly bad. The burden and pain is a bummer, but God prevents us from living eternally bummed-out. He works in these ways…
Just because you can’t see what God is doing, doesn’t mean He isn’t protecting, saving, helping or equipping you. It doesn’t mean that God’s best plan isn’t in motion. Just because you feel down, doesn’t mean you are really down. Christ says you are seated in the heavenlies, with Him (Eph. 2:6).
Your issues are not a summation of your spiritual worthiness. Break that lie right now. You are not summed-up by what is happening to you.
You are loved and you are protected. Kept and held. Wanted and chosen.
God is your shield. He is over you and all around you. He defends you, keeps you and guards you.
Rest encouraged. Take hope. God has you.
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What a good analogy. Whatever bumps or dings come through, they could have been so much worse without our shield.
Thank you!
I love this image of God’s protection–even in the midst of things we weren’t expecting and may not understand at the time.
“You are not summed-up by what is happening to you” What beautiful words to read this morning! Words that I needed to read.. Thank you.
Thank you for this timely message. Just yesterday I was in a car accident. It could have been much worse. Then later on my husband found out he didn’t pass the second section of the cpa for the second time. The enemy wants to have a field day with our struggles but God does know how to miraculously make good out of the hard times. Thank you Kelly.
I appreciate the truth that I’m not summed up by what’s happening to me. Thank you!
Love these words: “Your issues are not a summation of your spiritual worthiness.” We never know how much God is shielding and protecting us. I think when we some day see just how much he lessoned our trials and helped shield us in our daily life, we will be amazed.
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I love the analogy. It is so true God is our shield. Thank you for the reminder. Maree
“God is our shield. We may not always see His cover, but His protection is real.’ Thank you so much for this reminder. We may not see Him, but God is always there with us.
Thanks for this insight Kelly! Nothing can set you off course like being blindsided. BUT, if we remain in Him and He remains in us then we are already armed with protection. Of course depending on the damage from the impact, we may need to go dig a little deeper in the word or spend purposed time in prayer. We need to be mindful that our Shield is always there. I believe the more we become aware of it, the more we realize that cover is ALWAYS protecting us. So when pebbles, rocks or boulders try to blindside us, we immediately call on Him.