“He who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””

Psalm 91:1-2 ESV

We all desire to live in a protected place. Nations have their own ways and strategies to guard their boundaries—on land, water, and air. Yet even the strongest systems have loopholes that allow enemies to cross borders and attack. In other words, there is nothing in this world that can truly be called the safest apart from the protection of God.

During the very early stages of my childhood—around four years old—we lived in a village. Our house was located in such a way that behind it were fields where crops grew year-round, and beyond those fields stood mountains. It was a beautiful, serene place to live. But with that beauty came dangers as well—predators, reptiles, and animals I cannot even name now.

Being the youngest, my siblings would take me out to “play,” walking along narrow pathways and often visiting the mountains, just a short walk from our house. We would see animals that had been killed, spiders, scorpions, snake skins, and I even remember playing with snake eggs that were laid in our garden.

None of this frightened us as children, but I clearly remember how alarmed our parents were whenever these uninvited visitors showed up. We saw snakes in outdoor bathrooms, pipes, pits, and wells. The adults were always watchful, doing everything they could to protect the house from these animals. They made sure there were no open pipes, and outdoor bathrooms were carefully inspected before children were allowed to use them. They did all they could, within their ability, to guard us.

One day, while our parents were extending our bedroom to attach a bathroom, they had to use an open space. The bedroom was almost complete, with only a few minor things left to be done. I remember it was nap time, and all five children were sleeping on a custom-made wide bed. My mother came to check on us and suddenly found a black, poisonous cobra under the bed. She screamed loudly for help.

Hearing her scream, we slowly woke up and began to sense the danger. My mother could not reach us, and we could not get to her. Strangely, it did not feel terrifying to us at the moment—we were used to seeing snakes outside, and now there was one inside. Because we were accustomed to handling such situations, help arrived quickly, and the snake was removed.

The irony is that anything could have happened. We did not know when the snake entered or how long it had been under our bed. Yet at the precise moment my mother came to check on us, the snake did not harm us or defend itself. I vaguely remember how huge it was. Afterward, my mother cried uncontrollably, holding us tightly. This was nothing but the protection of God—not only in that incident, but amid all the dangers that surrounded that area.

A year later, we moved away for better education. Thinking back on this ordeal is frightening, but it was clearly the hand of God that protected us at such a time. It stands as a powerful reminder that only God’s protection is effective and cannot be tampered with.

Now, as I have my own family and live in a more sophisticated place, whenever fear of danger arises, I remember incidents like this and thank God. If He was able to protect us then, He is surely able to protect us now.

After I came to know who Jesus is and what His blood can do, I can rest assured that the blood of the Lamb—which protected the people of Israel from the spirit of death—is still powerful to protect us today. The Word of God encourages us that He places a dome of protection wherever we go. As children of God, we have the privilege of dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty. He is our shield, our fortress, our stronghold, and our safe haven.

Remember, disaster did not touch the homes that had the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts and remained under its covering. When you feel afraid or insecure, run into the arms of the Almighty and seek His protection.

“For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.”

Exodus 12:23 ESV

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being our refuge and our shield. We trust in Your unfailing protection over our lives and our families. Cover us with the blood of Jesus, guard us from seen and unseen dangers, and help us rest under the shadow of Your wings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.