Shadow of the Almighty

Think about when you’re driving and the sun is glaring in your eyes. It’s stressful, difficult, and uncomfortable. But when a semi is passing you (or you pass them), you find yourself in a shadow that suddenly eases all of the stress caused by the sun. Wouldn’t it be nice to just stay in that shadow and avoid the blinding sun for the rest of your trip? But that’s just not practical or safe.

When the heat of life circumstances are glaring down on us and making life difficult and uncomfortable, we can find rest in the shadow of God Almighty. Psalms 91:1 says, “He who lives under the protection of the Most High abides in the shadow of the Almighty.”

The first part of this verse talks about living under the protection of the Most High. This means we must make Him our dwelling place; we must have a relationship with Him. The second part says, “abides in the shadow of the Almighty.” Some versions say dwells, remains, or rests. 

So how do we abide or rest in His shadow? To be in the shadow of a semi when I’m driving, it requires that I stay close. In order to be in God’s shadow, we must be near Him. When we stay closely connected to Him, we will remain under His shadow which provides a shade of protection and a refuge from the storm. It’s a place where we can find rest from the heat or stress that often makes a situation seem unbearable.  

Psalms 91:2-3 says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. He himself will deliver you from the hunter’s net, from the destructive plague.” When we know Him and are close to Him (v.1), it’s easier to trust Him. The remainder of this chapter lists many things that God will deliver us from. The key is that we must trust him regardless of how horrible the situation may be. It’s easier to trust Him in the big trials if we are walking with Him daily and trusting Him in the small stuff. No matter what we face, God is still in control. He is good, and He is holy. Only He can provide rest in the midst of stress and chaos.  When we walk with Him and trust Him daily, we can rest in His shadow and have peace and comfort in the midst of trials that no one or nothing else can give.  

In Psalms 91:14, God says, “Because he has his heart set on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name.” We must be devoted to Him.  If our hearts are focused on Him, he will deliver us. So when we (a) trust Him and (b) have our heart set on Him, we will “abide (rest) in the shadow of the Almighty”. 

Life is a constant roller coaster of ups and downs for all of us. There will always be situations that seem unbearable and opportunities to trust and obey.  You may be in a difficult season right now and wondering how you’re going to get through it. 

Whether it’s a mountain sized trial or the small daily trials, remember that He is with you. Remember that seeking God and trusting Him makes those difficult times much easier. Remember that Psalms 91 says that when we trust Him and have our heart set on Him, we will find rest in God’s shadow, and His shadow is a place where we can find comfort, peace, and protection. 

Psalms 91

1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 He Himself will deliver you from the hunter’s net, from the destructive plague.

4 He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day,

6 the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you.

8 You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord-my refuge, the Most High-your dwelling place,

10 no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.

12 They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the young lion and the serpent.

14 Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will exalt him because he knows My name.

15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.

16 I will satisfy him with a long life and show him My salvation.