You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
Yes, you. I see your tired eyes and weary shoulders, swollen throat from all that talking, pleading, yelling. You are finally sitting because you can stand no longer. You are seeking so much. Come sit here,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Under the dark cloak of the Overpowerer, the Destroyer.
Say this: “ GOD, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!”
Say it to me and to yourself and to Him. Yes, really. Say it aloud. Again. Louder.
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.
Now whisper it to your hands, your feet, your ears, your lips.
You have stood watch for your friends, your husband, your children,
All night long with worry, sometimes prayer. Mostly worry. You worry for their hearts, their safety, their future, that they will make it through the night.
His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon.
You worry for yourself too. That you can stand under the burden of the physical stress, the stress of carrying so much, feeling so much, doing so much all day and well into the night. Another disorder diagnosed, another presentation to make, another night alone in your bed.
Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you.
You sit with Yahweh Provider, El Shaddai, God Almighty and you wonder when He will appear.
Provider, where is your Provision?
Almighty, where is your Strong Arm?
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Your enemies: the despairing thoughts, the naysayers, the accusers, the abusers---they crumble under God's Arm. His Good is greater than their thoughts, and yours.
Yes, because GOD ’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door.
Can you believe it even when you don't yet feel it?
He is honing your life to be the sharpest knife in the wood block.
Will you open your hands anyway, open your mind anyway, ask the hard questions anyway?
He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go.
We're learning, like children, whose little brains fatten with life as they scrape knees, slosh juice, and spell "fight" F-I-T-E.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.
The big angels tower over us like our huge mother or father or aunt or teacher, whoever taught you the best things. They extend their arms to catch your fumbling feet, your whole body free-falling off the pedestal of worry and suffering.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
You will rest in Him at the end of this day and say, "Why was I ever afraid?"(Psalm 91:1-13 MSG)
- Christina H.
