For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…

Psalm 91:11

In her book of Bible illustrations, Ruth Peters re-tells the story of a little boy who asked his mother if he could take his baby sister out to play.  She had just begun to walk alone and could not step over anything that lay in the way.  His mother said, “Yes, if you’ll be careful not to not let her fall.”  The man who originally tells this story says, I found them at play, very happy, in the field.  I said, “You seem to be very happy, George.  Is this your sister?”  “Yes sir,” he replied.  “Can she walk alone?”  “Yes sir, on smooth ground.”  “Then how did she walk over those big stones between here and the house?”  “Well, mother told me to be careful she didn’t fall, so I put my hands under her arms and lifted her up when she came to a stone so she wouldn’t hit her foot against it.” 

Beloved, the Bible declares that whoever trusts in God, whoever makes God their dwelling place, will be secure in him.  Trusting in God is more than mental assent, it is more than going to church and engaging in Bible study, it is even more than giving to the poor.  Trusting in God means living a life of absolute dependence and commitment to God, even when one’s life is falling apart.  It is daring to live a life that causes people to ask questions about the God you serve.  It is daring to believe that he will save you from the pit of fire; it is daring to believe that God will rescue you from the lion’s den; it is daring to believe that God’s promises for you will come to pass at whatever age he so pleases to fulfill them.

When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, God commanded his angels to guard him then.  This same Almighty and loving God who watched over Jesus as he was tempted, will watch over you and will give his angels charge over every aspect of your life today.  The angels assigned by God will bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.  But just as Jesus trusted in God’s word in that wilderness, you must trust in God’s word for you in your wilderness.  You must trust that God’s word for you is true even when everything inside of you is screaming for you to let go of him.

Like the little boy and his sister, God’s angels will be there to lift you up over the stony parts of life, lest you dash your foot.  Remember that as you shelter in God, he has charged his angels to lead and lift you over every difficulty that you are facing or will ever face.  You are not alone; you will never be alone; take shelter in Him.

Sheltering God, thank you for your loving presence which offers me protection from every difficulty I could ever face.  Thank you for the assurance that your angels are with me in the pit of fire and in the lion's den, and in whatever else I might confront today.  I ascribe majesty, glory and honor to you only, because you are worthy.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.