“For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.” Psalm 32:7
It happens every year in early fall. We have a cold snap plunging temperatures a little bit below freezing. The garden is still going strong and we’re not ready to give it up yet, so we get out the tarps and blankets to cover the garden and protect it from the cold weather.
This year as we covered our tomatoes, cucumber, and squash, I realized how vital our job was to the livelihood of the plants. And God’s job as our protector is vital to our livelihood as well.
Let’s see how God protects us like a gardener protects their plants.
God covers us completely. As we stretch out the tarps and blankets, we carefully make sure the edges are covering every part of the plant. Just one branch or leaf left out in the cold can affect the whole plant.
God is also complete in his protection of us, covering every inch of our souls with the greatness of who he is. “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do I not fill the heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24 ESV God leaves nothing missing. His greatest concern is our well-being. We can trust that through God’s protection he will leave nothing undone.
God is our shield. The tarps and blankets we choose to cover the garden need to be thick enough to keep out the cold. They serve as a shield between the cold temperatures and the plant.
We have God as our shield, providing a thick shelter of power to guard us against evil. The Bible refers to God acting as a shield nearly 30 times. Peter began his first letter to the early Christians reminding them that God’s power was their shield.
“This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed during the last time.”1 Peter 1:4-5 NIV Like a tree providing shelter from rain, God holds himself over our souls, protecting us with his grace.
God keeps our fruit intact. We choose to cover the garden because we want to keep the fruit intact and growing. And this is precisely the reason God protects us; he wants his good fruit to keep growing on this earth.
God is always on guard, preserving the love and goodness, the joy and peace, the faithfulness and gentleness he wants to grow on this earth. Even when difficulties strike, his protection keeps us from the full impact of hurt and heartaches. His love leads us to the fruit of his own spirit, expanding inside of us with comfort.
“The Lord rescues the godly, he is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in them.” Psalm 37:39-40
Protection is a gift we receive from God when we believe. As we become more aware of this protection, our hearts pray for protection and trust in God’s mighty, supernatural protection. In any situation, God’s protection is always enough.
As we look around the world, we know we need a protector; a never-ending well of goodness to fight for us, to walk next to us, to guide us from peril to purpose. And praise God, we have Him!
Reaching in (allowing God’s word to work in your soul): Revisit the scriptures mentioned above and trust in the power of God to protect. For extra study, read Psalm 91 which is known as the Psalm of protection.
Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world): As each day begins, pray for protection over yourself and others, over our country and our world, over God’s people and his kingdom. Let this prayer stay on your lips as your day progresses and thank God for his everlasting protection.
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