God is . . . Protector

The saying, “there are no atheists in foxholes,” highlights the fact that when danger is extreme it’s easier for nonbelievers to turn to God.  But we live normal lives, you say.  No foxholes here.  Really?  Think again.  We’re all living in foxholes filled with disasters, pandemics, crime, terrorism.  The world of Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, is long gone. Our world is more violent, more frightening, more complicated, more uncaring.  But dwelling on all the things that could go wrong, all the terrible things that could befall us, could also make us a nervous wreck.

“How can anyone live in today’s world without God? How do they keep their hearts and minds in peace?” I keep asking my husband.  I just don’t get it.  That’s because I’ve live both sides, and it’s only from God my own peace comes. I just don’t know of any other source.  Even in the face of hurricanes, pandemics, the rise in gang activities just a few miles from my door, I know that it’s God’s job to keep me.  Yes, I must be responsible, put up the hurricane shutters; eat right and keep fit; avoid driving alone at night in gang infested territories.  God gave me a brain and expects me to use it.  But after I’ve done all I can or should, I rest in Him and know that ultimately, everything must go through God before it can get to me. There’s peace in that, peace in knowing He is my protector. 

How many times has God protected me?  Well, on three different occasions a distraction delayed my entering an intersection after the light turned green, and each time a speeding car ran the light and would have hit me broadside.  But who knows how many other times I’ve been saved from a catastrophe? So much of what God does is hidden or revealed to us only later, like in this story below. 

Years ago a missionary I heard about wanted to reach a certain people group living deep in the roughed interior of a certain country.   In order to reach them, the missionary had to pass through the territory of a very hostile and dangerous tribe.  He did this for years.  Back and forth, back and forth he went, finally converting the people he had befriended so many years before.  In the process, that other tribe, the one so hostile, also converted.  And when the missionary finally had an opportunity to ask its chief why he never bothered to kill him, the chief answered, “Oh, we tried, but you were always surrounded by two or three giant men who looked so fierce we were afraid to come near!” The missionary just smiled because he knew he always traveled along.  What the chief saw were angles sent to protect him.

No one needs to walk along life’s dangerous pathways alone.  The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” (Psalm 46:1 KJV) and that “He orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.” (Psalm 91:11 LB)  BUT it also says, “The Lord is a strong fortress.  The godly run to him and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10 LB) And there’s the rub.  If we stay outside that fortress we are sitting ducks.  We must run to Him.  So why don’t you put on your Nikes today and start running? 

Until next week,

Sylvia