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"I'll be wearing thirty pounds of body armor, and traveling in an armored SUV with armed escorts." He was doing his best to sound reassuring.
Our family had just moved to the Middle East. We were living in Dubai, but my husband's job was in Iraq. At the time, the U.S. military was still present, and tensions were high. Every Sunday, my husband flew into a war zone, and every Thursday, we waited for word of his safe return. The threat of IED's, missiles, and attempted kidnappings became part of our daily conversations. As was the custom in our country of residence, we would worship on Fridays, thanking God for His continued protection.
When I relive that experience, my thoughts turn to David and Psalm 27. David was also in great danger from the enemy. Saul and his army had him on the run, yet he was fearless (v.1) and he says, “still I am confident” (v.3). Hiding out in the Judean wilderness, David sought shelter underneath the tent of the Lord to conceal and protect him (v.5). Foremost in his spirit was not fear, only the desire to dwell with God. Like David, we too learned to put our confidence in the Lord as our stronghold during those uneasy days.
As a global worker, you may face unpredictable, even dangerous situations. Our enemy takes many forms. Whether you are serving in an area of political unrest, tribal conflict, or even a warzone, fear is hard to suppress when you feel surrounded. You can prepare yourself for all kinds of challenging conditions, but ultimately, where does your confidence lie?
David’s confidence in the Lord’s protection is the real remedy for combating the fear that makes us feel surrounded. Know you will be hidden under His tent. Know He will protect you on a high rock, where you can clearly see the threats below. And just like David, you can say, “still I am confident”, and you can “shout for joy, sing and make music to the Lord” in thankfulness for His protection.
Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security. ~ Elisabeth Elliot
When you face a threat from the enemy, whether it is mental, spiritual or physical, what is your first response?
I am a planner by nature and so my first response is to anticipate and prepare. I tend to live by the mantra of former White House Chief of Staff, James Baker: Prior preparation prevents poor performance. I always had my “go bag” packed! But my experiences living in the Middle East taught me much about reliance on the Lord for protection and guidance. There were so many things that happened during our years there that we could not plan for or predict.