A Prayer to Trust Jesus for Protection
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19
Read or Listen Below:
Sometimes, I feel so uneasy about the future when I ponder what's in store for me or the people I love. When I contemplate financial decisions on the horizon or consider the constant unknowns of my health and safety that are truly always up in the air. I find myself on edge just trying to wrap my head around how I’ll handle the unexpected, unpredictable, hard stuff that’s sure to hit me–as life always does. And I think what I’m struggling with is fear of pain in the face of these difficult things that may join my reality. It's a specific hurt I can’t fathom handling. Or handling well anyway. And when I find myself in these spaces of worry, I ultimately need the peace of knowing I’m protected and that the power and protection of Jesus will constantly cover me. Knowing and trusting that there will be peace where I fear there will be pain.
Does this resonate with you at all? Is there something you feel uneasy about? Something surrounding you or in front of you that has you desiring to know you are protected deep down? A little fear stirs up in you with upcoming travel plans, the state of the world, the well-being of your children, or some other situation that seems vulnerable to an undesirable outcome. An outcome you feel concerned about could cause pain, heartache, and grief. Circumstances wouldn't seem so worrisome if you could be assured you are protected.
I get it. Even if you can’t pinpoint something in your own life, there’s been so much going on in the world these days that many people stew in a sense of unease. Economic unrest, tragic shootings, aircraft accidents, and uncontainable wildfires, to name a few.
I struggle with the idea of protection a lot. And here’s why. Just because I know God is my protector doesn’t mean life always goes as I hoped or that I avoid suffering and sorrow. Yes, I know I am protected, but God’s protection doesn’t always guarantee the avoidance of all pain, which is what I think I need. Maybe it’s not what you or I truly need–protection from pain, that is. Maybe, just perhaps, what we truly need is peace and strength to endure. Along that notion, this is when I strive to hold tight to one of my favorite verses in scripture—God’s promise in Philippians 4:19 is to provide according to our needs.
God always provides what we need. That said, what if God provides a peace that surpasses understanding in the face of the pain we fear? Or his sufficient strength? What if God actually knows exactly what we need for our exact situation, and that is precisely what he will provide? And what if I told you this is 100% true? The truth is God’s provision protects us. Every one of us who loves the Lord—he protects us. You and I can trust the protection and power of Jesus our Savior because God promises to provide what we need. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
The ultimate protection promised is not necessarily found in avoidance of all the elements, events, suffering, and sorrow we fear in our uncertain future. The protection that we all need, now and in the face of the unknowns of the future, is found in the Lord’s promise to provide… absolutely all that we need.
Let’s Pray:
Father God, You are all powerful and my ultimate protector. I long to feel your protection as I walk through life and all the unknowns surrounding me. Sometimes, I fear what I may encounter and endure, but I know you are always with me. Your protection may not guarantee my escape from difficulty, but I can trust that you will be present and provide precisely what I need to face whatever is on my path ahead. Nothing surprises you, and nothing in front of me is too big for you to supply sufficient strength, peace, or whatever I need to feel the power of your presence. Help increase my confidence in your provision and protection, knowing that you will undoubtedly meet all my needs according to the riches in your son, Jesus. In Your faithful Name, Amen.
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