My Shield

“Thou O Lord, art a shield about me. You’re my glory, you’re the lifter of my head.” (Psalm 3:3)

I learned this verse as a song many years ago and it has been playing on repeat in my mind for weeks now. As we walk through this pandemic, I have been thinking about why this verse has been such a comfort to me. 

When I was younger I would often wake in the night with overwhelming fears. After years of struggling, someone suggested that in those times I should focus on God’s protection around me. I would remember that God was a “shield about me” and would picture in my mind a bubble of his protection, almost like a force field from sci-fi cartoons. I think many of us wish that God’s shield would protect us from all disease and difficulties like the force field Violet is able to generate in the Incredibles movies. I have heard some people jokingly talk about everyone moving around in big bubbles or giant hamster balls to protect them from exposure to this virus that is wreaking havoc across the globe. 

But if this verse doesn’t mean that God will create a force field around us to keep us safe from this virus and other suffering, what does it mean? This Psalm was written by King David as he fled from his son, Absalom. David knew that God was his protection and glory, even when his own son was trying to kill him. But has God promised to protect us from anything bad happening? No. The Bible is filled with statements about how God is with us and working in our lives in the midst of trials. But as I think of how this “shield” applies today, I am reminded that whatever trials God allows past this shield, He will use for my good. I pray that my family will be spared from COVID 19, but if God allows one of my family to get sick, He will work for our food in the midst of it. 

As I reflect more on this shield of protection, I am now  thinking of it as the shield of God’s goodness. It doesn’t mean that no bad thing will ever happen to me or my loved ones. But it does mean that God is good and is working for our good in whatever he allows. I am reminded of another song that has been an encouragement to me during this time, “Sovereign Over Us” by Michael W. Smith. The bridge seems particularly poignant.

Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good
You turn it for our good and for Your glory
Even in the valley, You are faithful
You're working for our good
You're working for our good and for Your glory

This morning I saw a beautiful picture of what it means for God to be our shield in my living room. When Evie woke this morning, she ran right to her Daddy for comfort and protection. We currently have a little puppy that likes to nibble on everything and everyone, so Evie often uses Mommy or Daddy as a “shield” to protect her. We love her so much and want what is best for her. Sometimes that means picking her up to protect her from the puppy, but sometimes it means teaching her how to stand her ground and train the puppy. As her parents, we want her to run to us for protection, but we also want to equip her to handle life’s challenges. Of course the analogy breaks down at some point, but the protective love We feel for our children is just a small picture of the amazing love of God for us.

As we walk through this pandemic and the lockdown here in Uganda, it is good for me to focus on the goodness of our Lord and the ways that he is working for my good in the midst of these challenging times. I pray that God will lift my head to focus on His glory and goodness. I pray that I will run to Him for comfort and protection in difficult times. I pray that whatever challenges you are walking through today, God will remind you that He is your living Father, your shield, your glory and the lifter of your head. And I pray that in his grace, He will give us glimpses of the good He is doing in the midst of our struggles. 

A life cut short

This morning I woke early thinking that I would write about some of the things, God is teaching me during lock-down, but then I read about the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. He was a healthy 26 year old black man just out for a run in our home state of Georgia. He was seen by some white men who suspected him of robbery, chased him down and eventually shot and killed him. Since Ahmaud tried to get the gun away from them, they claim self-defense, and have not even been arrested. I don’t want to start a debate about all the details of the many cases of black men being shot by white men in the United States of America. But right now I am angry and grieving that we still live in a world with so much racism. 

I hate that we live in a world where assumptions are made based on the difference in the color of our skin. My three year old Ugandan daughter notices the difference and asks why she is black and others in our family are white. Of course, we are all just different shades of brown, some lighter and some darker. But she has already picked up on the words people use about skin color being black and white. I pray that while acknowledging the differences in our skin color, we can also affirm the unity of all of God’s children from every tribe and nation. 

As I read this story about Ahmaud, I thought of the young man living with us who has a heart of gold. He loves Jesus and is always looking for a way to be helpful and serve others. He prays for his family and for the world. But some people would never know what an amazing young man he is because of the color of his skin. I am thankful that he lives with us here in Uganda and not in the US where I would fear for his safety. He likes to exercise and this could have been him out jogging. My heart is outraged and broken and angry. 

I wish that we lived in a world where people were “not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (Martin Luther King Jr.) But this is still only “a dream.” All people are valuable because they bear the image of God.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” ‭‭(Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬)

During this global pandemic, I have also heard of racism against people who appear Chinese. One woman was chased out of the market here in Uganda with people calling her “Corona.” I know that most acts of racism are based in fear and ignorance, but that does not excuse treating anyone as less valuable simply because of their appearance.

It is my prayer that today I will treat all the people in my life with the love and respect they deserve as image bearers of the Creator of the universe. Since most of the world is not coming into contact with many outside their own homes right now, maybe this is a time to reflect and pray about how we can reach out to people of different races to live out the love of Jesus Christ.