“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
My son Jon, had a best friend from his late teen years through to adulthood, but for some unknown reason Joe never visited Jon after his traumatic brain injury from the motorcycle accident. His other friends visited him, but we always wondered where Joe was. Jon’s brother even tried to contact Joe, but received no answer.
One day, thirteen months later, while I was visiting Jon at the Nursing Facility, Joe suddenly walked in. He walked straight over to Jon, who was sitting in a wheelchair, put his arms around him, and hugged him, saying,
“I love you, man.”
It was obvious that Jon instantly knew who Joe was, because his face lit up and he started crying. As Joe kept his arms around Jon, it was an emotional moment for all who witnessed it, and I’m glad I was there to enjoy that moment.
To watch the embrace between two friends, whose friendship spanned over 25 years, was touching, but I still wondered why it took 13 months for Joe to finally show up. Joe told me that he moved to Tennessee a few years prior, and then he opened up further, telling me that he was struggling in the past few years with substance abuse. He was finally hospitalized and received the help and rehab that he long needed.
Joe shared how God stepped into his life, and with rehab and the intervention of the Holy Spirit, he was now living in the shadow of God’s rest, sober, drug free and trusting Jesus. He looked directly at Jon, as he told the story of his own redemption and healing, and then he prayed for him.
Joe’s visit was as great a gift for me as it was for Jon. I had no idea about his struggle with drugs or how the Lord intervened in his life, but I was grateful to hear his story and see their reunion that day. Later, while I was driving home, it seemed that God was saying to me, “Rest in My shadow and everything will be alright.”
I believe God is saying this to everyone who is in a situation that overwhelms them with anxiety. To dwell in God’s shelter and rest in His shadow, for me, means talking to Him daily through prayer, keeping His words of scripture in my heart, and releasing the worries of each day to Him.
We may not receive all the answers or solutions to our problems, but God will send the blessing of His shadow into our storm. As we persist to live in His shelter, His shadow sweeps over us, giving us assurance that He is truly with us, as we find our rest in Him.
A shadow is evidence that someone is there. It’s possible to see a shadow without seeing the actual person. In the same way, no one can see God, but His shadow indicates His Presence, which brings us peace and rest. God sent His shadow to Jon that day, through the loving presence of an old friend’s visit. He also sent His shadow to me by letting me witness the reunion between them. If we keep our eyes open, we will see how God chooses to send His shadow next into our life.
After leaving the Nursing Facility that day, I felt assured that God is in control. It doesn’t matter how many questions are unanswered, or how uncertain tomorrow may be. If we choose to dwell in God’s shelter, He sends us His shadow, which is a blessed reminder that He sees us, is with us and has everything under control.
Lord, tomorrow is in your hands and as we choose to dwell in your shelter, may we all find rest in your shadow each and every day. Amen
