The high winds of chaos and strife can send me running, looking for shelter and in the past, I've done just that. Over the last year, I’ve been learning to run into Him and find safety.
Recently I discovered that trying to create my own safety kept me stuck. Only in seeking refuge in Him can I be free.
He will cover you with His feathers,and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4
I have spent the last two years trying to apply this verse and live from it. I imagine a mama duck with her duckling. When she covers her baby with her feathers you can’t see it. Same with Him, when He covers me with His feathers, I’m hidden.
For in the day of troubleHe will keep me safe in His dwelling;He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tentand set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5 TPT
Hiding is one of those words that can have a negative connotation. We tend to think of hiding as an unhealthy coping skill and it certainly can be. But, when we seek refuge under His wings there is real safety, security, peace, and protection.
Bullying is a popular word today and a lot is done to educate our children about bullies, the effects of bullying, etcetera, but it’s been around forever. As long as there is fear, we will have bullying. I’ve had my share of bullies and being an adult doesn’t help, they are just bigger and better at it. I’ve learned to face my bullies, but I don’t do it alone. I have a favorite bullying story, it’s not mine, but a beautiful picture of the Father’s protection.
In the book Glory Revealed - How the Invisible God Makes Himself Known by David Nasser, he shares a story from sixth grade when he was being bullied by a classmate named Corbett. He says, “I tried everything-reasoning with him, hiding from him, giving him my lunch, even bribing him. But nothing seemed to help.”
Sound familiar? It does to me, possibly more then I’d care to admit.
When he had reached the point where he just couldn’t take it anymore, he went to his dad, who was loving but was also a military man and proud of it.
Bullying is a popular word today and a lot is done to educate our children about bullies, the effects of bullying, etcetera, but it’s been around forever. As long as there is fear, we will have bullying. I’ve had my share of bullies and being an adult doesn’t help, they are just bigger and better at it. I’ve learned to face my bullies, but I don’t do it alone. I have a favorite bullying story, it’s not mine, but a beautiful picture of the Father’s protection.
In the book Glory Revealed - How the Invisible God Makes Himself Known by David Nasser, he shares a story from sixth grade when he was being bullied by a classmate named Corbett. He says, “I tried everything-reasoning with him, hiding from him, giving him my lunch, even bribing him. But nothing seemed to help.”
Sound familiar? It does to me, possibly more then I’d care to admit.
When he had reached the point where he just couldn’t take it anymore, he went to his dad, who was loving but was also a military man and proud of it.
David says, “What I was missing was this: My dad wanted the very best for me. He knew much better than I how to help me overcome my weaknesses, yet I was repeating my mistakes over and over again. All I had to do was reach out and ask for his help.”
I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5His dad said that after school he would meet Corbett. David was ecstatic and couldn't wait for the final bell. When he approached his dad in the car, his dad simply said, “Son, stand out there and wait for Corbett. When he comes you say to him ‘Corbett I don’t want you to mess with me anymore.’”
David argued but had no choice his dad had given him instructions. He feared his dad more than Corbett. He did what his father asked and said, “I’m tired of running from you. I don’t w-want you to m-mess with me anymore.”
Corbett demanded, “What did you say?”
David repeated himself feeling his father’s authority.
All of a sudden Corbett looked wide-eyed, but it wasn’t because of what David said, it was because his father, the ex-Iranian military man was standing behind him and gave David’s message weight, just by his presence.
David said of that moment, “I had power because the fear of my father gave me courage to stand in the face of my tormentor. There I stood in the shadow of my father, sheltered and fearless.”
It's a powerful example of facing our fears in His shadow and under His wings.
I’ve shared this story countless times over the years and honestly, this is the first time I haven’t cried because I have finally started to realize how this really is possible for me as a daughter of the Living God. I may not have had an earthly father who had my back, but I’ve always had a heavenly Father who’s had me covered.
What if the fear we are facing is more of opportunity to trust him instead of rendering us useless? What if we faced our fears knowing that He has our back, just like David Nasser's dad did?
I’d love to tell you I don’t have any bullies in my life and this is a thing of the past, but I do and I still have to stand up to them in faith with my Father right behind me.
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