Live Fearless In The Father’s Love

We cannot take safety for granted.

In an age where new strains of diseases are likely emerging as we speak, where terror attacks could strike anywhere from concerts to cafes, and where natural disasters are on the rise both in frequency and in magnitude, perhaps you have wondered: “Will I be next? Will God really protect me and my family in the year ahead?”

Perhaps you have cancelled a vacation because of civil unrest. Or news of terrifying shootings have left you wondering whether it’s the last time you’ll see your kids as you drop them off at school. But my friend, God does not want your heart to be overwhelmed by fear over your or your family’s safety.

Look at His assurance of His protection over you, His beloved child, in Psalm 91:1:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

God wants you so secure in this promise that like the psalmist David, you can say this of Him:

“He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.” (Ps. 91:2, NLT)

You might be wondering though: Am I qualified to dwell in God’s secret place of safety?

Yes, a thousand times over! If God did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for you, you can be sure that He will, with Jesus, freely give you all things (see Rom. 8:32)—which certainly includes His protection. Jesus qualified you to be in this secret place forever through His finished work.

Plus, this secret place is not a geographical location: It is in Christ. The word “dwell” in the verse’s original Hebrew is the word yashab1, which means to sit down, to remain, or to settle—and the Bible says that we are seated in Christ Jesus (see Eph. 2:6). In other words, the secret place is a place of nearness to God. It’s where we live at rest within the very Person who purchased protection for us through His death on the cross.

Abide Under His Shadow

In fact, Psalm 91:1 speaks of this closeness—it says that you shall abide under the shadow of God Almighty Himself.

Perhaps you’ve never felt close to God. Perhaps you have always seen God as an angry God. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16), and that He delights in showing unfailing love (see Mic. 7:18, NLT).

As imperfect people, we will fail God in some way or another—but His heart of love and willingness to protect us never fails. In fact, He says that He has loved us with an everlasting love (see Jer. 31:3, NLT). And it is God’s perfect love that “turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror” (1 John 4:18, AMPC).