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

(NOTE: I wrote this short devo in 2007 sometime, and find its subject matter apropos with the theme of August’s ongoing "Fruit of the Spirit" devotionals–FAITHFULNESS. Thus I am posting it today, in hopes that you will find shelter and reassurance in the refuge of God’s eternal faithfulness…)

Life is as predictable as changing weather patterns. Though we plot and plan for what may come, many days we dress for sunshine and end up doused by a heavy downpour of rain. We learn to ask: What if? Any momentary blessing is lost in the swirling uncertainty of what lies around the next bend. Fear drives us to find shelter. We want an impenetrable place of safety, able to withstand even the most vicious of storms. We strain to hear a soothing voice to relieve our fear. Too often, however, we take refuge in people and possessions that were never meant to hold ground.

The Psalmist must have understood firsthand our deep need for security. His words begin, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" (vs. 1). Like the quiet calm after a storm, this verse offers a blanket of peace. Unfortunately, life often robs us of our rest. Is it possible to live consistently secure?

God wants us to know him as our only source of safety. There is only one place where we are fully secure—under the arm of the Almighty. Not in our relationships, and certainly not in any bank account or list of personal achievements. His rock-solid faithfulness is our true shelter: He is stable in the midst of instability, unchanging in the midst of change, and reliable in the midst of the unreliable. Nurturing trust in His unwavering, utterly faithful presence is both our shield and rampart: a shield that covers head to toe as we stand in a violent storm; a rampart, or wall, enclosing us in a haven of trust away from the raging storm. Only under the faithful wings of our Father we can face each day dressed for any kind of weather.