The Unclaimed Gift: Safe Under His Wing

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

After the wild, stormy start to our camping adventure, the second day was the polar opposite. Quiet serenity, a gorgeous sunset, and an evening around a campfire pushed all the chaos of the previous day into oblivion. Flocks of birds, stunning in their plumage, came and went from the edge of the lake. Deer wandered by on their way to drink. Peacocks called as they settled into the trees. (Ok, I agree that peacocks are not native to Texas but they were still fascinating to watch.)

The smell of bubbling chicken stew, topped by fluffy, buttermilk biscuits, simmered to perfection in my Dutch oven. This often overlooked way of outdoor cooking, is one of the oldest ways of preparing a single pot meal. There is something comforting about a good hot meal at the end of a day that started out with such a storm of events. It was my first try at making a meal this way and it was a great success!

We said our prayers of thankfulness and headed for bed. After the previous night’s sleeplessness, we were both looking forward to our comfortable air mattress on top of their rather thin camping pad. But God had the last laugh of the day as it deflated, leaving us in a rather undignified heap on the floor.

In spite of everything, it was soothing to have those sturdy walls of the cabin surrounding us. Even in our discomfort, we were safe from the elements and creatures of the night. I heard Him whisper Psalm 91:9-10 “If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.”

While our first two days had been full of detours and delays, we remained firm in our gratitude to our Abba for giving us this time together. A friend pointed out that sweetheart and I had worked as a team to overcome the obstacles. We never lost sight of the fact that “God works for the good of those who love Him.”

God never tells us that we won’t have winds and rain, collapsed tents and deflated air mattresses. He never tells us that we will always have beautiful sunsets or yummy smelling dinners. What He does tell us is that no matter what, if we praise Him in ALL things, nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

Dearest Father God, let us seek the safety of You in every storm. Let us know that You will let us rest in the shadow of Your Love. Let us laugh when it seems that everything is going wrong. Teach us to look for the good in every situation. We ask Your blessings on us this day. That no matter what we are going through, no matter what are circumstance, no matter how much wind is blowing, we will know that there is refuge in Your Mercy and Grace. In the name of Your Most Precious Son, Christ Jesus, Amen

KJV and NIV Bibles used for scripture