Divine Protection

Today is one of the days that worries got better of me. When I had free time during the day, I read some articles on pregnancy safety. There are so many potential dangers that can hurt the unborn baby. All kinds of infections, sickness, radiation, stress, environment ... just name a few! I was a little overwhelmed. All of my family members in China don't want me to take the trip next month. I talked to a long term friend in Beijing. She too strongly suggested me to cancel the trip - for the sake of the baby. I prayed everyday for God's divine protection, that God will protect our baby, watch over him/her, and give us wisdom in everything we do!

David had Friendspeak tonight. Claudia called me during the day that she wants me to lead the study with Maggie. I told her that I will but I may not be able to make it to Friendspeak on Wednesdays consistantly. I haven't told her about the baby yet. After work, I cooked some vegetable and beef since the baby needs blood supply now. I was very full. But I felt well enough to take a twenty minute walk in the gentle breeze. It was nice to walk through our neighborhood and look at each different house and their unique landscape. I need to walk every day starting today - I thought.

I had some time to read. The devotional I read tonight happened to be the divine protection. Ruth 2:9 "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn." It talked about a story that an Alpine mountain climbing team came to a perilous gap in the ice. The only way to get across was to step into the outstretched hands of the guide who had met them on the other side. The first climber hesitated a moment as he looked into the gloomy depths below, where he would certainly fall to his death if anything went wrong. Seeing his hesitancy, the guide said, "Don't worry. In all my years as a guide, my hands have never yet lost a man!"

With this same assurance, Ruth placed herself in Boaz's hands. God provided someone who would protect her. Boaz took steps to keep her morally safe by commanding the young men not to touch her. He also provided for her physical protection. Under the hot Mediterranean sun, the danger of heat stroke was a very real possibility. But his young men brought jars of water to the field, and Ruth was free to refresh herself whenever she wanted. In Boaz, Ruth found a safe haven from the dangers around her.

God offers the same to all His children. There is never a moment when we are excluded from His divine protection. That does not mean we can never be hurt. It doesn't mean we will never die. But God's divine protection extends to our ultimate safety—the protection of our souls. These can never be harmed. They are safe in the care of Jesus. Rejoice in God's divine protection. Be confident that you are safe in His care, no matter how difficult your circumstances might be. God is the keeper of your soul. Life can hurt us but it cannot ultimately harm us.