In the Shadow of His Wings – February 03, 2002
There are times when we sense God’s presence in our lives, and there are the difficult times, when wemay feel completely abandoned by Him. How do we find faith to make it through the difficult times?
In the burning deserts of Sinai, where food and water were scarce, the Children of Israel felt abandoned by God. Each day’s exhausting journey seemed to bring them no closer to the Promised Land. They were so weary of the barren wilderness. Where was their Father? When would His promised blessings come?
Like the Children of Israel, we too may be wandering in hardship: loneliness, poor health, financial distress, weakening relationships. At times we may feel God has abandoned us. We may wonder if He’s really there.
The Children of Israel were reminded of what God had already done for them: “Ye have seen . . . how I [bore] you on eagles’ wings and brought you into myself.”1 They were reminded that their freedom, food, and protection were all blessings from Him and that He was there among them. Their faith strengthened, they eventually reached the Promised Land.
Light from God’s past blessings illuminates our path to the future. Remembering former blessings gives us faith that we will again be blessed, even if the present is full of loneliness and distress. The Psalmist wrote, “In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”2
During life’s calamities, if we remember those times when we’ve been borne on God’s wings, we’ll realize we still stand in their protective shadow. And we’ll look forward with faith to again receiving His blessings and feeling His presence.
Program #3783
1. Exodus 19:4.
2. Psalm 57:1.