We had a great time visiting my son Eric and his wife Amanda in St. Louis last week. While we were there Eric took us to the zoo. It is a wonderful place and admittance is free just like all the museums in town. The zoo is well shaded throughout with many large shade trees.  With all the trees I managed to avoid a sun burn even though we spent several hours there walking around in the heat of the day.

The heat and humidity kept most of the animals in the shade too. We were moving around more than they were! The only one who really put on a show was the elephant. While I was snapping some photos he charged toward us. Now you better believe that if we had been in the wild and he charged me, I would have taken off so fast people would have heard cartoon noises and seen a cloud of dust. But I just kept taking pictures because I knew there was a barrier between him and me. I knew I was safe; I wasn’t worried.

Later on as I was looking at the pictures of the elephant I noticed that the barrier was not visible in the picture – but it is there nonetheless. Even though all I could see was the elephant charging, I was safe. It reminded me of the promise found in Psalms 18:2.  David writes:

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

I love the confidence David shows in the Lord.  Someone looking at snapshots of David’s life might think he is in big trouble.  He has an enemy who hates him, who hunts him and seeks to do him harm. The snapshot at times is a little scary.  But David knows the bigger picture.  He knows the Lord can be trusted to watch over him.  He knows that despite his circumstances he is safe and that the Lord stands between him and every enemy.  He knows the Lord is with him in the midst of every trial and tribulation, every battle and each bad day. He knows that the Lord who gives him hope for the hereafter can be trusted to give him help in the here and now.

I pray you have that same hope. I pray that you know the Lord as your Rock, your Fortress and your Deliverer. If you do you will never face an enemy, a battle or a problem alone.  And I pray that when the perspective of this world tells you that you are facing those situations alone that you will look past the perspective of this world and turn to the promise of the word!  Look past the snapshot and see the bigger picture. You have a Deliverer!  Trust that the Lord will be your Refuge!  Trust that He who has given you hope for the hereafter can be trusted to give you help in the here and now.  Until next time, stay strong in the faith.