Is God my protector? Is He yours? According to the Bible, He is. But what does God’s protection actually mean?
Looking back at my childhood, I struggle believing God protected me. Being sexually abused creates a huge problem for me. Where was God? And did He protect me? If so, how did He protect me? Could it have been worst?
It’s humbling to admit I’m struggling with God’s truth. Ask me a month ago and I would have thought my view of God was all good. I love God with all my heart and believe He has redeemed my life in so many ways. He is the only true hope I’ve found.
But now there is a disconnect. And I want the truth. But what is the truth about God’s protection? What are His promises about this? Is His protection only about our salvation? What does God mean by this verse?
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2
Because of my past, I’ve learned to protect myself–first and foremost. After all, no one else did, not even God. But this isn’t the best way to live. Self protection stops intimacy.
At the beginning of this year, my friend and I each picked a word we wanted to work on and pray about. She picked, “gratitude” and I picked, “trust.” I wanted to trust God more.
God is faithful to my prayer request because my biggest challenge right now is–TRUST. Will I trust God to protect me His way–whatever that looks like? Or will I fight to protect myself as a form of control and miss the blessing of true intimacy and the fragrance of sweet surrender?
Any wisdom about God’s protection? Please post your thoughts.
This is a great question, Tiffany. I think we all struggle with it sometimes. I’ve always wondered why “bad things happen to good people”. Why missionaries, serving God and sacrificing so much, would go through terrible tragedies (death, persecutions, etc.)
Most recently, why my dad, who is such a godly man, has had to struggle through a battle with cancer, financial difficulties, emotional battles, etc. Why???
The fact of the matter is, God is most certainly our Protector. He protects our soul. This body will someday be dust…back it will go, from whence it came. But our soul will live forever.
I just read a neat fictional work called “The Dwelling Place” (by Elizabeth Musser) that dealt with just this issue–and quite wonderfully, I might add.
Your post also reminded me of the words to this song. Hope you don’t mind…
“Protector of My Soul”
by Anne Barbour
1.Oh, Protector of my soul,
You will stand against the foe;
In the dark You’ll be a light for
me,
Oh, Protector of my soul.
2.Oh, gracious God above,
I could never earn Your love;
I’m amazed to see all You’ve given
me.
Oh, gracious God above.
3.Oh, Holy Spirit, come,
Show the world where life comes
from;
May they always see You alive in
me.
Oh, Holy Spirit, come.
Chorus: You, Who created the ends
of the earth
Guided me unto Your throne;
Offered Your healing hand to me,
Mericfully made me Your own.
I don’t understand all the “why’s” of the bad stuff. I just know the good of the One who is truly the Protector of our souls.
Joni,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. They truly are an answer to prayer.
I believe you’re right. He is the protector of my SOUL. I can accept that. And I will try and read that book. The song is beautiful and couldn’t have been more timely.
It’s amazing to know that you and I haven’t even met, yet you chose to take the time to encourage me. For that I am forever grateful.
Bless you. Your precious dad too.
Hey Tiffany,
First let me say, “I am so sorry for what you have endured! My heart breaks for you!!!!!”. Someone I love was sexually abused by someone she knew – and I have seen first hand the devasting effects it has had on her life!
That being said, I think this was an amazing post – I loved the honesty in your questions. And I think God does too!
I think Joni had some God breathed answers – especially that of God being the protector of your SOUL.
It is so hard when bad or EVIL things happen to good people. I have many imperfect thoughts on the matter – i.e. I know that we are in a war zone…the enemy set out to kill, steal and destroy us. And I know that the Lord saw every injust thing that you have endured – and that one day that person will meet their maker and have to “give an account”
And I pray that God helps you find a way to “trust” His love for you…because I believe that it has never wavored even through the mysteries of the “whys”, or the fact that it happened – you suffered an injustice – without question!
Prayin you find the answers you are seeking!
This is a question I’ve grappled with a lot. Is God my protector? Of course, the Bible says He is? Does that mean things I don’t like won’t happen any more. Obviously not. I love Joni’s answer–that He protects our soul.
A couple of years ago, God showed me that I was trembling all the time on the inside, really scared. (And I had some good reasons to be so frightened!)
Then He gave me that Aslan picture. I don’t know how long you’ve received Soul Scents, but I wrote about it here:http://www.soulscents.us/Empowered.htm It is the last devotional of that series called comforter–you’ll find it if you scroll down the page I gave you.
May God reveal Himself to you as Protector–and may I come to believe it more deeply as well.
I’ve been pondering your questions, Tiffany, and stewing over your revelation of being sexually abused as a child. Yet one more friend of mine who deals with this issue–It angers me deeply. The abuse of children is #1 issue I have not been able to wrap my mind around as far as reconciling this with a loving God. Murder is clean cut–it’s over and the murderer is sought and punished. Abuse,however, lives on killing inch by inch and the perpetrator is so often PROTECTED.
All that Job experienced as recorded in the Old Testament is a piece of cake compared to sexual abuse. His losses were external–even his physical health. Abuse is a deep and intensely personal knife.
Attempts to explain “why” or understand God relative to this fall flat, as far as I’m concerned.
The only thing that “saves” me is the pain and abuse of the cross. JESUS KNOWS DEEP PAIN.
And, the thought that God is able to bring good out of the darkest evil mankind can conjure up is a hope. I look to you and to my other girlfriends who’ve experienced sexual abuse to instruct me. I am your student.
Thank you ALL for your comments. I’m overwhelmed by your thoughts.
I must admit I felt naked mentioning my sexual abuse, but the truth is my abuse is what prompted this question. Thankfully it wasn’t from someone I knew.
I continue to seek the LORD for truth and freedom. And I believe I will see it this side of heaven.