EquippedMama

As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the Most High, and resides in the protective shadow of the Sovereign One— I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust—he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague. He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall. For he will order his angels to protect you in all you do. They will lift you up in their hands, so you will not slip and fall on a stone. (Psalm 91:1-4, 11-12)

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Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15).

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When I became pregnant with our second child, I realized, much to my chagrin, that little ones don’t give you a break just because you’re sick. Morning sickness the second time included trying to keep both the toddler and the dog out of the bathroom so I could throw up in solitude. I learned that vomiting alone is a luxury rather than a necessity. If you are cuddling your second or third or fourth, you probably can relate.

Regardless of whether you just had your first child or fifth child, you likely are learning that your personal challenges and setbacks also do not take a back seat just because you have a baby. Your carnal cravings are still just as real as they were before you added mama to your list of job descriptions. If this is an overwhelming realization that has left you frustrated and discouraged, this psalm is a place for great encouragement.

Interestingly, this psalm does not appear only once in the Bible, verses 11 and 12 are referenced in Matthew 4:6 and Luke 4:10-11 by Satan in his temptation of Jesus. In this context, Satan asks Jesus to prove Himself as the Son of Man by throwing Himself off a building, stating that angels would protect Him and keep Him from being hurt. Clearly this was a scheme on Satan’s part to distract Jesus from His true work and mission, and Jesus used Scripture to clarify Satan’s misapplication of this passage. This is a passage offering hope to those who live in the shelter of the Lord, rather than a guarantee of eternal physical protection.

So how can we as mamas experience the protection and sheltering spoken of in this passage? How can we know His intervention in our lives as it seems to be promised by these verses? As we look at our personal temptations and struggles, we are wise to consider the model Jesus sets for us in being tempted victoriously. Scripture says He was tempted “in every way just as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15b). Clearly, this temptation by Satan was not the only event that challenged Jesus to remain righteous. How, then, did Jesus endure tempting well? He lived in the shelter of the Sovereign One. He resided in the protective shadow of the Mighty King.

When tempted, Jesus responded with Scripture. He knew Scripture and was able to quote it from memory as a means of strengthening Himself against temptation. When He was in the midst of ministry or facing a challenging situation, He would withdraw and pray (Matthew 26:36, Luke 5:16). Jesus modeled a lifestyle of living in the shelter of the Lord—not just in times of chaos—but every day.

As you go about caring for your precious little one, consider what steps you need to live in the shelter of the One who promises to protect you. Take time to dwell in His presence today and every day.

Sovereign Father and Almighty King,

Lord, I know that I do not dwell in your presence as I ought, that I do not draw from your strength as I could. So often I draw from myself and only come to you in times of need. Thank you so much that you are the Sovereign One. You are the Mighty King. You are more than able to handle all my challenges and failures as a mother and as a person. I praise you and thank you for who you are and ask that you keep me constantly aware of my need for you. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Note- this devotional is from Katherine’s book, Redeeming Mama. You can purchase a copy here.