A Prayer for Assurance of God’s Protection
By Keri Eichberger
“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” - Zephaniah 3:17
I have a fear of flying. If you know me, you know this. However, it’s actually gotten leaps and bounds better over the years as I’ve leaned closer and closer to the truths of God’s almighty power and control and his love that always looks out for me. But I still have to fight like crazy to cling to the Lord to allow his sovereign presence to infuse, calm, and comfort my shaky spirit whenever I board any aircraft. And let me tell you, flying certainly isn’t the only situation that unsteadies the sails of my soul.
Last summer, for example, I was preparing for a flight across the country to witness my niece get married. Days before, my devotional scripture of the day was Zephaniah 3:17, which begins, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” I knew this truth would be helpful to hold near on my flight, so I jotted it down and marked the verse as a post-it bookmark in my hot pink and favorite bible–a “must have” on all air travel. I later opened Zephaniah to reflect on the meaning of the words as a sense of unease began to swell while soaring higher and higher above the clouds into the clear blue sky.
I needed to know God was with me. I fixed my focus on the fine black text and imagined my “mighty warrior” right beside me, saving me, protecting me, and surrounding me. I memorized the verse as I personalized it over and over in my mind: Keri, the LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. With each repetition, the Lord allowed peace to flow and grow within. I wouldn’t know I’d need the depth of this truth again and again in the few days before my return home. But I did. Because, among a couple of other unnamed incidents, I was faced with yet another unexpected fear the following day.
On the wedding day, a limo bus picked up several of the guests, myself and my family included, to provide transportation to the ceremony. It was a beautiful mountainous Colorado drive until the bus took a sharp turn onto a one-lane, windy, gravel road to head a final steep 2000 feet up to the peak where the event would take place. You’d have to have been there to understand the extent of the intense drop-offs and sharp turns the oversized vehicle would maneuver back and forth exactly eleven life-threatening (seeming) times. But trust me, it was downright scary. Everyone felt it. And I remember closing my eyes after surviving the first turn, thankful for the verse I had burned in my brain for such an unexpected time as this.
Once again, I needed to know God was with me. And again, I pictured him next to me. I saw our mighty, mighty warrior wrapped around me and my loved ones, with protection that would be sure to hold each soul with peace no matter what happened. You might think I’m a big wimp, or maybe this story triggered memories of fearful circumstances you’ve been placed in. But I know you have fears, too.
Is there something today that has you stirred up with fearful feelings or consumed with concern, leaving you desperate for assurance of God's almighty protection? What is it? Are you fearful of a near or long-term outcome? Maybe dealing with a diagnosis, a risky procedure, or a loved one is. I know how you feel. And you so badly want to know that God has this, has you. That he will care for you, protect you, or whoever it is you are concerned for.
Can I remind you that the Lord is with you? That he is oh so mightily in control of every detail. The Word tells us not even one sparrow will fall to the ground outside of the Father’s care. And that we should not be afraid because we are of so much more value than the sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31). He is watching every move made around you, and he will not let go of one of his children for a split second. You are always, always, always in the Father’s good care. He is the mighty warrior who saves.
I pray this offers you comfort as you repeat this fear-fighting truth today or tomorrow in the midst of your fragile moments and fears. The Lord holds you and hovers over you—you, me, and all of those who love him.
Let’s pray:
Father God, I have so many worries, cares, and concerns. Many I don’t even acknowledge as they have become so common and threaded through each day of my life. And I have fears, too. Some small and some really big at times that try to overtake me. But you are my mighty Savior. Always with me. Help me remember that not one detail of my life, or the lives of those I love, is out of your sovereign love and control. I am so thankful you have me. Because of what the Bible tells me. I can be sure of your constant protection. And I can be sure your perfect love will never ever leave me. Oh, how blessed I am by you. May I remain confident in your unfailing Word. In your faithful name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Thitaree Sarmkasat
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