WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
Going to the movies with my grandpa was one of my favorite things to do when I was young. We would go and see what trouble Indiana Jones, Captain Kirk, or Luke Skywalker would get into, and how they would get out of it. Many of the movies that I saw with Grandpa and still enjoy today involve a number of perilous situations that often come out of nowhere. Many of those situations are out-of-this-world ridiculous. I can say with complete confidence that I’ll never be running down a long hallway with a 12-foot tall boulder chasing me. I’m also aware that I’ll never be in a face-off with an alien race while sitting in my starship outside the rings of Saturn.
As outrageous and unlikely as those situations are, we still face situations and circumstances that can overwhelm and overtake us. It could be health-related. It may be a strained relationship. Financial hardships always take a hard toll. Whatever the situation, we’ve been called to trust in our Maker.
In the spring of 2010, I found myself in a difficult situation. In a nutshell, I found myself crying out to God. If I remember correctly, I started by yelling at him in frustration due to the situation. By the end of my time with him on the picturesque shore of Lake Huron, I reminded myself and prayed to my Father in heaven that I trust him with everything. Verses 1-2 of Psalm 91 (NCV) are a beautiful illustration of this trust in God. They read:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
The path to safety out of that difficult situation was revealed within a week by my loving Savior. He was faithful to protect me and my family against what we were facing. But that protection and deliverance aren’t for everyone. The Hebrew for the word “Dwell” in verse 1 has the underlying tone of abiding and settling in. Continuing in the verse after dwelling, it’s for those who rest in the shadow of the Almighty, who place their trust in him. Verse 14 reminds us of that again when it says that He will deliver those who have their heart set on Him and know His name.
All three sections of chapter 91 start with the same theme as I just mentioned. Verse 1 reads, “…my God in whom I trust,” Verse 9 says “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place…” I just mentioned verse 14 which refers to us as having our hearts set on our Savior. Do you see the theme here? We need to be fully trusting our God. Our God is faithful. His promises are unwavering.
One of my favorite movies is Hacksaw Ridge. It’s the true story of Desmond Doss. A devout Christian in the U.S. Army in World War 2 who was classified as a conscientious objector, meaning he would not have to carry a weapon. He was assigned to an infantry rifle company. Can you picture how someone who wouldn’t carry a weapon would get along with others in the company who were all going into battle with a weapon? Enough to say, there was friction. He wasn’t well-liked by his squad. In fact, a biography about him says that one man in the company told Desmond, “Doss, as soon as we get into combat, I’ll make sure you won’t come back alive.” Doss trained as a medic in the company. Once in battle, Doss time and time again ran into combat to treat a fellow soldier who had been injured and carry him back to safety. His prayer was “Just one more.” He did this while enemy bullets whizzed past and mortar shells exploded around him. He did eventually end up getting hit by grenade shrapnel and then a sniper’s bullet, but he lived to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman. Desmond’s situation was completely described in verses 3-4, which read:
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
As extraordinary as Desmond Doss’ story is, God’s Word is filled with examples of this promise being fulfilled. Daniel’s three friends stood amongst the fiery flames of the furnace and were not burned. David was kept safe and well-hidden when pursued by Saul. Time and time again the Jews were delivered from the grasp of Pharaoh in Egypt and brought to the Land of Promise.
Whether or not you’re currently going through a difficult situation, chances are that you are, I would encourage you to read Psalm 91. It’s filled with God’s promises to us when we find ourselves in those situations. There are other encouraging pieces of scripture that point us to God’s faithfulness for those who abide in Him including Exodus 15:26, Exodus 23:25-26, Deuteronomy 5:33, Psalm 27:5, Psalm 9:10, and Proverbs 10:27. There are many others, but this is a good starting point.
Again, just like me, you’re not literally being chased down a corridor by a large boulder or going face-to-face with an alien species, but we all have circumstances, habits, and hurts that we need to place in our loving Father’s hands. But remember, it first starts by abiding in Him.
- Where are you choosing to dwell? In the shelter of the Most High or are you choosing to run frantically down the same corridor as the enormous boulder? Take some time to reflect. Ask our Protector what you need to do to rest under his wings.
- What does life look like for you knowing that we have refuge and safety in Him? Will you walk into difficult situations with a holy confidence knowing his faithfulness will be your shield?
- Looking back, can you see a circumstance when God has shielded you from the enemy’s arrows?
