Looking to God for Comfort
By Lauren Sheffer, Atlanta GA
I remember so distinctly hearing the doctor’s words “We want you and your husband to be prepared that your son might not make it.” Our beautiful, newborn baby boy, only weeks old. Our first child. A child we had prayed fervently for after losing several babies who are now safe in Jesus’ arms. My human reaction was to be angry at God. Why us? Why our sweet baby boy? Haven’t we proven ourselves to be faithful servants and followers?
I then remembered the words of advice I had given to a friend just a few years before- that we should be joyful during trials as Satan often chooses the strongest and most faithful followers of the Lord to target and attempt to take away from the Lord. As stated in James Chapter 1, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Several of the men and women we admire most in the scriptures endured the worst trials and tribulations. What about Psalms 91 ensures us that God will protect us from all things? We are often guilty as humans of viewing this passage as a promise that as Christians we will never endure hardship or painful trials because surely God will protect us from these. We forget that our goal is eternal life in Heaven and instead spend our time trying to perfect our time here on earth while losing sight of that goal.
God never promises a perfect life. Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” If He allowed us to live in perfection here in this life- what would cause us to yearn for Heaven? If we were asked what we looked forward to most in Heaven, what would that be? I am sure we would hear varying answers of “Meeting Jesus face to face”, and “Pearly gates and streets of gold,” but I think perhaps one of the best answers is that “There will be no sin and no pain in Heaven.”
So where do the words of Psalms 91 come into play? “Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” I recently witnessed a dear friend and her husband lose their precious five-year-old little girl unexpectedly. Two of the most faithful followers of Christ and loving parents. Their spiritual examples during this excruciating tragedy brought the words of Psalms 91 to light. We may never understand why our prayers and petitions aren’t answered in the way we want them or, oftentimes, expect them to be answered. It is, instead, during these times that we “seek the refuge under his wings.” We are protected by the “peace that passeth all understanding.” We are face to face with the reality of Heaven and this world being temporary. Our flesh is weak, but our soul belongs in Heaven.
Psalms 91 describes protection and no harm overtaking us. I believe this is in regard to our souls. That if we trust in the Lord and go to Him in times of trial and tribulation, He promises to protect our souls from harm and shield them as we walk through this life. Does God answer our prayers that pertain to our human bodies? He does. I can attest to that as I watch my now four-year-old son run around and play and witness so many others healed from their disease and afflictions. I am reminded that God sent His only son, Jesus, to die for the sins of all mankind. That tremendous pain of losing His only son was excruciating but that is how much He loves us. He cares most about our souls and desires a relationship with each and every one of us. He wants us to be with Him for eternity. He cares for us and loves us as a father loves His children. He understands our pain and hears our prayers.
He yearns for us to come to Him during hard times here on earth so He can comfort us. It is during these times our relationship to Him becomes closer and our faith is strengthened. This is the joy produced by the trial as described in James 1. However, until Jesus returns, we are in engaged in spiritual battle: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). As Christians, our desire is the defeat of the evil that is alive and well not only in this world but in the spiritual realm. When we turn to God and allow Him to take our pain, burdens, and anxiety, we are given the opportunity to play a part in defeating the enemy: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
We will seek “refuge under His wings” many times throughout our lives as long as there is sin, death, and decay, but our hope is in Him who continues to protect our souls as we sojourn through this world and yearn for peace and eternal rest in Him. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus so one day after our bodies are worn and tired we can claim our prize and hear the words “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).