Daily Devotional for Sunday, April 30

God’s Protection

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust,” Psalm 91:1, 2.

On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley brought fierce destruction to areas of Florida. During the storm, twenty-five-year-old Danny Williams went outside to seek protection under the branches of a fifty-five-year-old banyan tree. Friends and family said that the protective branches of the spreading tree had been a favorite peaceful place for Danny. But on that day, his place of safety became a death trap. The tree fell on Williams and killed him. Sometimes, the places we look to for protection can ultimately be the most harmful.
God has promised His protection over His children throughout the storms of life. The Psalmist declared that God is a refuge and fortress for His children when conflict and storms arise. We may seek refuge in people and circumstances other than God, but nothing can replace His protective grace on His children. Any place of refuge we may run to instead may give us temporary shelter, but there is no shelter so strong and so true like that of our Heavenly Father.
The New Testament records several occasions when Jesus demonstrated His protective hand over His disciples. Mark 4:35-41 is one of those occasions. Jesus and His disciples were in a boat sailing to the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee when a fierce storm came up on the sea. The disciples thought they were going to drown. Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat and the disciples awakened Him. Jesus stood up and spoke the words, “Peace, be still.” The storm was immediately calmed, and the disciples were rescued from possible death. The Lord takes care of His own.

THOUGHT: We must train ourselves to seek God alone when storms arise.

Steven Ridings