‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord : He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”’ Psalms 91:1-16 (NLT)
How do you live with peace and poise in the face of life’s worries?
The Psalmist has a profound understanding of who God is. He calls Him the Most High in verse 1, referring to the supreme and sovereign character of God. He calls Him Almighty, referring to His power and omnipotence. In verse 2, he calls Him Yahweh referring to His personal and covenant keeping nature. And finally, he calls Him Master and Lord referring to His authority. We see a portrait of God who is powerful, yet intimate; strong, yet tender; and sovereign, yet personal.
And this God is on your side. He powerfully protects His own. This does not mean that God will spare you from the sufferings of this world. It does not mean life will be smooth and nothing bad will happen. But it does give us the assurance that God is with us when we go through trials and suffering.
Even our worst circumstances are under God’s loving control, and He allows situations in our lives for a purpose, for our good and for His glory. God brings His power to bear upon all things in our lives to work out His beautiful purposes for us. He is protecting us, preserving us, shaping, and forming us into His own image. We can be certain of His powerful protection even during the worst times in our lives. He is powerfully working all things for good.
The Psalmist concludes the Psalm reminding us that God knows us personally. He knows our name, and He answers us when we call. When you worry, remind yourself of this personal promise of God for you. Take your worries to Jesus, who gathers us like a mother hen gathers her little ones, so you can find shelter and comfort from all your worries.
from Psalms: Dealing with Difficult Emotions