A Powerful Protector!

January 12, 2023

A Powerful Protector!

Fear gets the best of all of us from time to time.  No matter how confident or competent or courageous we may be, fear has a way of creeping in and taking up lodging in our heart and mind. 

We re-call the time the disciples of Jesus retreated to someone’s house somewhere in the city of Jerusalem.  The religious leaders were after them, the government’s soldiers were after them, and many of their neighbors were after them.

Jesus had been arrested, tortured, and executed in a matter of 24 hours.  When the sun set on that Friday, the disciples were huddled in fear with doors barred and windows locked.  Terror filled their hearts.

They had placed their faith in Jesus, but now their Savior was dead.  They were confused, they were full of doubt, and they did not know who they could trust.  They felt incredibly alone and terribly afraid.  And then, Jesus appears in their midst.  The first thing Jesus says is; “Peace be with you.”  (Luke 24:36)

Jesus speaks to the deepest part of their fear and tells the disciples to let His peace push away the fear.  The Psalmist says it in a different way. 

In Psalm 91:5-6 we hear; “You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.”  You do not need to fear when you trust the Lord God will protect you.

Here is the third attribute of the character of God; the Lord God is a powerful protector!

We do not need to fear the darkness of the night, the darkness of our sin, or the darkness of our depression. 

We do not need to fear the arrow that flies by day, the attack of our regret, or the assault of our guilt. 

We do not need to fear the ugly things that stalk us, the anxiety that chases us down, or the intimidating things that threaten to destroy us. 

We do not need to fear the destruction that challenges us in the brightness of the day, the devastation that confronts us at noon-time, or the damage already done to our character in the middle of the work day.

I do not need to fear because the Lord God is a powerful protector.  The Lord is more powerful than sin or depression or regret.  The Lord is more powerful than ugly things, anxious things, or intimidating things.  The Lord God is more powerful that the challenges, the devastations, or the damage threatening to undo us.  

I imagine you know someone who needs to know the Lord God is a powerful protector.  They may feel ruined right now.  They may feel threatened right now.  They may feel vulnerable right now. 

Take a chance on them; invite them for a cup of coffee.  Then, trust the Holy Spirit to create an opportunity for you to tell them how the Lord God is a powerful protector.

When you do, both of your hearts will be filled with unimaginable delight in the Lord our powerful protector.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug

P.S.  Please take a moment to invite a family member or a close friend to join our blog community at douglasdelp.com.