Prayer for Protection

“Why is this the first time we’re doing this?” Kyle wondered out loud, sipping morning coffee by a lakeside fire. Nearly five years we’ve been living here, often choosing the east-facing porch for our fair-weather devotions. And I nod in agreement. There is something surreal about welcoming the day with the scent of smoke. 

Dusting a few wafting ashes from the open pages of my Bible, I return my attention to the psalm I’m reading…

The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust: He himself will rescue you from the bird trap, from the destructive plague. He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

Psalm 91:1-4

The poetry is easy to imagine, here where eagles soar and aspens shimmer. Or in the words of our 3-year-old grandson, Bo—

“Oh look. The trees is clappin’ der hands.” 

Yes. Easy to imagine. 

And yet this morning my meditation invites more questions than answers. 

I was still in bed when the questions started. Before campfire or scripture or morning cup, I’d been grappling in prayer. Awakened from a dream about a missionary family—Tony and Emily and their four small children—who left last week for the middle east. They’ve been on my mind and now in my sleep and I just wish I knew how they’re doing. So I pray…

The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

Still in bed my thoughts shift to my cousin, Marit—a bit younger than me, and recently widowed. At the funeral she told a story about the day her husband died—the day she and her three young-adult kids witnessed the tragic end to a father’s life. There’d been a song playing while their family of five rode together in the car…lyrics lingering later through a day of heartbreak, and my cousin remembered…

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord

Who abide in His shadow for life

Say to the Lord, "My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”

And He will raise you up on eagles' wings

Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you

And famine will bring you no fear

Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield…*

I think about Tony and Emily. Marit. And then Kati… 

Kati is an associate pastor at my church, and young. Too young to be fighting stage four cancer. Blindsided this summer by her diagnosis. 

All of these thoughts while I’m still in bed. 

Fast forward.

Minutes later I'm sitting with a psalm, casting my gaze over perfectly still morning water…

Because you have made the Lord—my refuge,

the Most High—your dwelling place,

no harm will come to you;

no plague will come near your tent.

For he will give his angels orders concerning you,

to protect you in all your ways.

Psalm 91:9-11

And yet. My soul aches. My spirit is troubled. And quite honestly, I wonder. Is it even true?? 

Is it true that no harm will come to those who take refuge?

Is it true His angels protect you? 

I am shaken I suppose by a long stretch of heartbreaking headlines. This coming from one who guards her heart against too much news. Even so, I know. I know enough about shootings and earthquakes. Wars on repeat. Assassinations. 

The week of my mom’s emergency surgery there were little girls drowning in floodwaters. I was back in the ER with Mom when I got the news about my cousin. The day after Greg’s funeral was the Catholic school shooting. 

No harm will come to you;

no plague will come near your tent…

I re-read the psalm sitting with my husband and my dog on the first day of autumn and I want to believe it. I want to pray believing for all of my people. 

And so. We do. 

Before we spread the coals on our fire I wrap my arm through my husband’s as we pray together. We pray, believing, for ourselves and our people. Phrases of a psalm and honest confession and heartfelt requests for the Father’s protection. And I say this—

Concerning the Lord… You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. 

Amen. 

*Michael Joncas, On Eagle’s Wings