“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm 36:7 (ESV)
White-knuckled and weary, I grip the steering wheel with sweaty palms. Peering through a dense wall of rain and whooshing windshield wipers, I do everything I can to keep myself, my baby, and a heavily loaded car on the road. It’s our second hurricane evacuation in two weeks, and let’s be honest, this isn’t part of my plan.
With eyes locked on the outline of my husband’s car ahead, my thoughts drift to the apartment we left behind and the uncertainty of what’s to come.
Will we have enough gas to get to our hotel when so many stations have run out?
What about the MRI I need to schedule for that new lump on my body? Will the doctor’s office still be standing when we return? Will it be too late?
As women, aren’t we prone to plan, perform, and repeat? It seems striving is a part of life as we hold everything together for those around us. Busy schedule? No problem! Blown-out diaper? We’ve got wipes!
And yet, with all our holding, life still falls apart at the seams sometimes. Hurricanes, doctors’ reports, unforeseen circumstances. In a moment, our tightly constructed plans can unravel, leaving us feeling tattered and even terrified of the outcome.
While we are wired to be mothers and caretakers, we so often forget to be daughters. And that’s exactly what I think of when I read today’s verse:
“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:7 (ESV)
Several times in scripture, we see wings as a symbol of God’s protection for His people. He invites us, His daughters, to take refuge beneath the shadow of His wings. Like a mother hen, He longs to gather us together like chicks (Matthew 23:37) and spread His wings over us to comfort and shelter us from the storms of life.
I find it truly amazing that the One who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17) wants to hold us.
As daughters nestled safely under our Father’s wing, we trust that the One whose shadow towers over us is also bigger than our circumstances. It’s not our perfectly executed plans that offer true peace. Rather, it’s our proximity to Him that sustains and carries us through difficult seasons.
Sister, we don’t have to have everything together before asking God for help. We simply need to know and trust the One who holds it all together and works it all together for our good.
When life is out of our hands, it rests securely in His.
In what areas of life do you need to trust God to hold it all together and work it out for good?
