The author after a recent crash
I believe God protects us in numerous ways. I was recently in two horrible car accidents in a 11 day period (literally was hit the first time I went out after eleven days of recovering from the first head on collision). While I sustained some injuries, my doctor has been clear that the Holy Spirit has more to do with my relatively good condition than his surgical skills. Like most of you, I could go on and on with instances where I believe God has protected our family. Yet, I can also list many occasions where it seems God failed at his role of great protector. I think of a youth group student killed in a tractor accident, a loving husband and father killed on a snowmobile, and the dozens of poor Nicaraguan parents I counsel that have lost children. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that there were moments where I wondered: where is God’s protection? With that in mind, how can we have faith that God will protect us? Or maybe even harder: how can we trust that God will protect our loved ones? How do we handle the apparent reality that he does not always appear to protect His people?
There is one simple verse that does an amazing job addressing these seemingly complex questions: The Lord rescues the Godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble. Psalm 37:39
First, the Psalmist tells us that God does indeed protect us. He will miraculously intervene to assist us in times of great struggle, offering us protection, wisdom, healing, etc. While some may argue that miracles ceased when the Bible was finished, I’ve seen way to many examples of God’s miraculous work to believe that. I truly believe that God continues to do the miraculous on the part of His people, including you and me. Our role is to be praying for His action, trusting His ways, and worshiping Him for all he does. But (yes, there is a but), this verse does not say that God will protect us from everything. Because of human sin a plethora of problems have flooded our world, including suffering and death. That’s the price of sin. So, where is God’s protection? Well, look at what this scripture DOES say. He (God) is their fortress in times of trouble. Terrible things will happen to us and others because of the sin of this world, but that does not mean God has abandoned us. God is right there in the midst of those moments crying with us, comforting us, directing us, and carrying us. We need to open our hearts and minds to God in the moments we don’t feel protected, letting his comfort and love overwhelm us. Most importantly, we need to always remember that Jesus has already suffered and died so that we can be protected forever. Because the truth is that, in the end, God’s grace offers us eternal protection in a perfect Heaven. He protects us now, he protects our hearts when they are broken, and he protects us for all eternity.
