As I opened up my social media account, the first post I see said, “Remember what God removed from your life was not to hurt you, but to protect you.”
I stilled.
There was so much that this post was saying in the few words displayed on the screen.
We don’t experience loss or pain because God is trying to hurt us, but rather trying to protect us. Even though we may begin a relationship with the intention to keep God in the front running, he gets lost as our hearts become divided.
“being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” -James 1:8
When we become consumed in what the world is offering such as seeking that “perfect person”, we become double-minded. We choose to fulfill the promises the world offers and twist it to make it seem like it is from God. We may overlook warning signs that God shows us initially and just attribute those as flaws. As the relationship pulls us farther and farther from our relationship with God, we turn our gaze from God and from hearing His voice.
Just as the story of David and Bathsheba, while David started putting his focus on a person who was not meant to be his, he turned his gaze away from God. David was highly favored by God and whatever he had asked, it was given to him. However, one day David sought after someone who was completely off-limits, but to fulfill his human desires, he went against what God wanted for him. After, a chain reaction was set in motion and all of these horrific events occurred, which all sprung from that initial disobedience.
One thing that is amazing about David is that once God took him away from the situation and corrected Him, he had a fully remorseful heart. In Psalms 86:2, we read David plead with God and say, “Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.”
Sometimes after we place so much in our other relationships and give all of our heart, God may take it away from us to refocus our gaze back on him or to protect us from harm.
David, after turning away from God, pleaded for mercy from Him and told God that he will call on him all day long. As his children, we should know that whatever has pulled us away from God does not hold a strong enough grip that we are not able to call on His name. We as his children can call on His name all day long.
Imagine you are a parent of a child. The child that you have nursed when she was sick, loved, protected, one day decides to move to a place where you won’t have access to her wellbeing. She has decided to be independent and seek guidance from another person, but you as her parent want to protect her yourself and to care for her.
Our godly father never wants to lose access to us, He wants to watch over us and He especially wants us to need him.
“The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.”- Psalm 121: 5.
He will always be our protective shade.
Graceful Strides 