He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

Shadows can be dark and scary places. A shadow holds the ability to register fear and loneliness. Being in a shadow of darkness it is easy to lose track of where you are and where you’re going. However, knowing what the source of the shadow is holds the key. In Psalm 91 God tells us that in the shadow of His wing is the safest place we could be. His wing is a shelter from a raging storm that consumes everything around us. 

Suddenly, the shadow isn’t so dark and you start seeing it as shelter. Knowing the source is what changes everything. We can even find ourselves aching for that shadow we were once afraid of. In Psalm 91 God clearly lays out for us that His presence is where we find our peace. 

I recently went through one of the biggest storms of my life. While I knew it might be somewhere on the horizon, I never saw it coming so quickly. During that time, the Lord tirelessly brought Psalm 91 to me that year… even before I knew I’d need it. He goes before us. He lays foundations for our minds.

Last year I went through a heart transplant that, as far as I could tell, there was no reason for. See the humor in that, please. That’s one of my shelters, laughter. Truth was I desperately needed that heart, mine left me with little breath and no life abilities. I quickly found myself staring at a hospital wall and wearing a hospital gown, waiting for a new heart that would bring life into my body again. While it was a place of shelter, it was also a difficult place to lay in.

Jesus filled my sad heart with His peace and even joy through that waiting period. Because I trusted in His word over my fear, I trusted He was making a way. I was able to use my time getting to know the nurses who took care of me. I shared the truth of Jesus and I experienced an amazing peace that covered me. That peace ruled over my mind and allowed many good things to come out of the hard. He is the God who makes beauty from ashes. This is what He does out of the broken pieces of our lives because He loves us. 

While it’s easy to get lost in the broken pieces, pay attention to what is coming out of them and through them instead. We get to choose to not focus on difficult things within our circumstances. I chose to set my mind on God’s promises. I focused on the scripture Psalm 91 and I waited.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” 

I stand today with a beautiful new heart beating inside my body. He chose for me to continue living through a donor heart on Easter Sunday of 2018. I’m here with my children and  family, and sharing with you these stories. God wants you to know Him, walk with Him, and trust that He has you. The outcome might not be the way you planned it, but it’s all for His glory and our good. No matter what you may be facing, the answer is found in His word. Rest in the peace of prayer and hold on with all you have to His word. He will never forsake you. 

Jesus is our Lord, and He taught us everything we need for life. He knew we were going to sin, but He still died on the cross to save us. He made a way for us through His pain. We have everlasting life because of who He is, not because of who we are or what we deserve. There is nothing too great for Him. He found you worth the sacrifice. We are all unworthy of His goodness, but He still gives it. What a picture of beauty! Choose today to accept His covering.

God, we are shown over and over in Your Word that we will encounter tough and scary times in our lives. Thank You for showing us that we will never, ever walk through those times along. Help us to recognize in the darkest days that You have us covered by Your love and protection. Amen