Our Father, Our Shield
Our Heavenly Father loves you and will protect you.
I would like to dedicate this post to my daddy and my husband on this Father’s Day. I’m so grateful that my daddy raised me on the solid foundation of Jesus. And I’m so thankful for my husband who is the best husband and father I could ever imagine. Happy Father’s Day to them and to any fathers reading this! May the Heavenly Father bless you greatly!
“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your right hand upholds me;
And Your gentleness makes me great.”
Psalms 18:35 NASB1995
This past week, my five-year-old randomly told me, “God is our shield.” It made my heart swell with pride to hear her say that at such a young age. The next day, I opened our devotion book which we read together, and it was about God being our shield. I perked up and paid close attention. After that, several people have since come to me dealing with hard things and needing support.
Because the enemy’s attacks are so prevalent, we need to remember to turn to our Heavenly Father, our Shield. What better time is there to remember that than on Father’s Day?
My heart breaks for those who are hurting and I have seen so much grief in the lives of others in recent weeks. I believe this is the message for you who are in pain, full of questions, or feel attacked by the enemy on all sides.
Have you ever questioned God? You may be in the middle of fighting an enemy of grief, temptation, being hurt by the choices of others, or even from your own. Perhaps you’ve gone to God in your despair, or you may be avoiding that conversation because you are afraid you may anger Him.
God is not upset by our questions. He wants you to come to Him. He is capable of answering. Your questions don’t scare Him one little bit. He wants to give you His wisdom. He wants to give you the answers. All you have to do is ask.
Remember the man after God’s own heart from 1 Samuel 13:14? That same David questioned God in Psalm 13 when he was distraught and needed help.
“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”
Psalms 13:1-2 NASB1995
Although David questioned God, he ended Psalm 13 saying he trusted in God and rejoiced in Him. That’s important when we’re in the middle of hard things. We must trust God. And we can still rejoice in Who He is even when life is tough and we are hurting.
David went on to write Psalm 18 — on the day he was delivered from the hand of all his enemies.
“ ‘I love You, O Lord, my strength.’
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.”
Psalms 18:1-3 NASB1995
God was faithful to David. He delivered him. He protected him.
God is faithful.
He will protect those He loves. And that includes you.
He sent you a Helper and Comforter in His Holy Spirit.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 NASB1995
The King James Version says “Comforter” in this verse. Other versions say “Advocate.” The Holy Spirit who lives inside us is our help and comfort. He advocates for us. He is our guide and we are to follow Him.
With Him, we can produce the fruits of the Spirit, which includes peace. God wants you to have peace for your soul.
The world may scream at you on all sides saying what you should do or how you should feel, but it is the Holy Spirit whom we should listen to. Find peace in Him and let Him guide you. Follow His lead to your healing and rest.
Hold the hand of your Heavenly Father and trust Him as a little child trusts the strong hold of his earthly father. Never let go.
It is faith in the Father who loves you that helps protect you from the enemy. Ephesians chapter six lists the armor of God we are to wear. Verse 16 sticks out to me.
“in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16 NASB1995
Do you have faith in Him? Do you believe He will deliver you from what you face today? Cling to the Rock. Even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. (Matthew 17:20) Nothing is impossible with God.
No matter the type of earthly father you’ve had, good or bad, your Heavenly Father loves you and cares for you.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Regardless of what you’re going through right now, or what you’ve been through in the past, He is with you. He is your shield and protection. He will deliver you and give you rest for your weary soul. He will give you peace.
Come to Him like a little child. Climb up in His lap and let His love surround you. Wrap yourself in His arms and let His peace gently rock you.
Find shelter in Him. Trust Him. He cares for you.
And He will rescue you.
“The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love Me.
I will protect those who trust in My name.
When they call on Me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.”
Psalms 91:14-15 NLT
More verses to remember your Heavenly Father is your shield:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalms 34:18 NASB1995
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
He is my God, and I trust Him.
For He will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with His feathers.
He will shelter you with His wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
Psalms 91:1-4 NLT
“Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”
Psalms 33:20-22 NASB1995
“Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.”
Psalms 28:6-7 NASB1995
“In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.”
Psalms 18:6 NASB1995
“As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?”
Psalms 18:30-32 NASB1995
“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord,
And I will sing praises to Your name.”
Psalms 18:46, 49 NASB1995
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Psalm 13 has always been a favorite that I memorized way back in my twenties. I’m so grateful for the way God protects us even when we don’t realize we need it!