I don’t know about you, but sometimes it is very difficult for me to depend on others. Most of the time, I work really hard to make things go smoothly for myself. I had wonderful parents who set me up to do well in life. They instilled a wonderful work ethic in the lives of my brothers, sisters, and myself. As and adult, I feel that if something is to be done well, then I need to be the one responsible for it. So because of this, I find myself usually rarely looking for the help of others. And if I am in need, it is hard for me to say I need help. Most of the time I want to be the person that God uses to bless others through helping them. This week, however, I saw a clear picture of God helping me even when I didn’t ask for it, and when I was unaware that I was going to need it. On Thursday, I was trying to escape the spring training baseball traffic that engulfs my neighborhood every March, and I took a different route through my neighborhood to get home. As I made a left at a 2-way stop, a bright blue flash of a car bolted down the wrong side of the road trying to pass another car. The driver was going way too fast. Not only that, he was headed right for me. There was really nothing I could do. If I veered left, I would hit the other car. I just prayed and braced for impact. But as I saw time go in slow motion…. the out of control blue car miraculously didn’t hit me. My daughter and I were spared just like that. As I took a deep breath….. I proceeded down the road and prayed to God above for his divine protection in this situation. I am so thankful that God offers us his unending protection in moments like this. He is also our source of safety in every part of our day...even when we think we doing well. He wants us to take refuge in “My Shaddai-shadow” and place our trust more and more in Him. It is tempting for us to take shelter in people, money, success, and good health. These are all blessings from God, but all of them are temporary and could go away at any moment. The protection God offers is a refuge in the shadow of His wings is available to every man who turns to God. It is best for us to put our trust in God above all. Psalm 118 says “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes” (8-9). God also reminds us in Psalm 91 ” You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddi’s shadow, say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you, and I’m safe!” I love this punctuation. This is not just a period statement. This is an exclamation. Ladies of the Church, let this be your prayer this week. Trust in Him, and He will keep you safe.
Blessings,
Jessica
God is indeed a refuge and shelter!!
Thank you Jessica for this message. My parents raised me the same way as you were raised and share the same struggle as not being able to delegate tasks for fear that “it” won’t be done to my standard. I pray for God to take this sin from me and I pray for you also. God bless you!
Jessica, thank you for this example of God’s intervention. I’ve learned in Healing from the Inside Out that “Healthy People ask for help,” – a big lesson I had to incorporate into my life. I do believe that also means asking God for help in everything I endeavor to do, “little” or “big.” So glad He came through for you answering yours and other’s prayers on you and your daughter’s behalf. He is trustworthy! God’s Best to you.