Consider Him-Tammy Goddard

Disappointments, trials, and tragedies will eventually find their way into our lives. Everyone, at some point in their life, will face a difficult time. How do we keep our sanity when these times come? How do we overcome them and keep them from overcoming us?

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

We receive perfect or complete peace when we keep our thoughts on God instead of focusing on the trial.

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Safety comes from dwelling on who God is (the name of God) rather than focusing on the trial.

Hebrews 12:1b-3 “….and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

The strength to endure comes from considering who Jesus is and what he has done for us instead of focusing on the trial.

One of the names of God that can bring comfort during difficult days is, "The Almighty." As we meditate on the fact that our God is The Almighty God, He promises to give our troubled hearts peace, security, and strength. Let's Consider Him Who is "The Almighty God."

Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” There are many benefits of abiding under a shadow. One such benefit is protection from physical harm. In Southern California, where I live, we get some sweltering days. When it is 115 degrees, people search for shade if they must be outside for any length of time. They want to avoid the pain and danger of a sunburn or heat stroke.

A shadow also gives comfort and refreshment. Have you ever stood in the shade on a hot day and felt a refreshing breeze blowing on your face? The shadow makes it bearable to be outside during those times of intense heat.

We have an Almighty God who wants us to dwell under the protection of his shadow. He wants to protect us from the fiery trials that threaten to harm us. The only way to abide under a shadow is to stay close to the object that is creating it. We must remember that the Almighty God has promised to take care of us. If we abide under his shadow, we like the Psalmist can say, “…He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

In verse four, we read, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Here we find what it means to dwell in the secret place. “His truth” is the secret place. If we live in His Word and let it dwell in us, we will abide under His shadow.

Let us look at a few things that we have available to us as we abide under the shadow of the Almighty:

Deliverance
3“Surely he shall deliver thee…”
14“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

The Almighty God invites us to a place of deliverance. He promises to deliver those who abide in His Word. He does not say He might deliver us. He says, "Surely he shall…" Do not leave the place of a "sure" deliverance.

Protection

4 “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

When the most powerful One of all is our protection, we have nothing to lose. We have nothing to fear. God is Almighty. Whatever we are facing is not bigger than our Almighty God. Stay in the place of the Almighty's protection.

Courage

5 “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Fear can destroy us. It clouds our judgment. When fear motivates us, we can hurt both ourselves and our loved ones. When we abide under the shadow of the Almighty, He will take away our fear and through His Word give us the courage to face each day. Do not walk away from the courage that comes from abiding in the shadow of the Almighty.

Power over evil

9 “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

In this world, we will face evil. God promises divine power over evil to those who abide in His shadow. Under this shadow, we will find the angles of Almighty God watching, protecting, and holding us in their hands to give us power over the evil that threatens to destroy us. Remember, the angles of an Almighty God are waiting to hold us in their hands and provide us with power over evil if we dwell in His secret place.

We can be tempted to allow the trials and disappointments of life to cause us to move away from the Almighty One and thus lose the protection of His shadow. We must remember that there is no safer place to be than under the protection of the most powerful One of all.

Who is Our God? He is "The Almighty." Are you abiding in the shadow of the Almighty?
"...For consider him...lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.