Prayer to trust Jesus for protection
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading:
“And my God will fulfill all your needs according to the richness of His glory of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
Read or listen to the following:
Sometimes, when I ponder what is in place for me and the people I love, I feel very uneasy about the future. When I contemplate my financial decisions on the horizon, or when I think of the constant unknown of my health and safety as truly always in the air. I’m just trying to get my head around how I handle the unexpected, unpredictable, hard things that hit me, as life always does. And I think what I struggle with is to fear pain in the face of these difficult things that could potentially be part of my reality. It’s a certain scar that I can’t guess what to do. Or handle it well anyway. And when I find myself in these spaces of worry, I will eventually need peace that I know I am protected, and the power and protection of Jesus will constantly cover me. To know and trust me to worry about being in pain.
Does this resonate with you? Do you ever feel anxious? Something surrounding you, or something in front of you who wants to know you are deeply protected? A bit of fear can stir you up in future travel plans, the state of the world, the happiness of your child, or other situations that you think are vulnerable to unwanted outcomes. The consequences of feeling worried can cause pain, heartache and sadness. If you can guarantee you are protected, the situation doesn’t seem so worried.
Understood. Even if you can’t identify anything in your life, many people these days are simmering in the sense of anxiety. Financial anxiety, tragic gunfires, aircraft accidents, and unprotected wildfires, give them some names.
I’m very struggling with the idea of protection. And here’s the reason. Just because I know that God is my guardian doesn’t mean that life will go as I wanted or that I will avoid suffering and sorrow. Yes, I know I am protected, but God’s protection does not always guarantee the avoidance of all pain. Maybe it’s not something you or I really need – that is protection from pain. Perhaps, perhaps, what we really need is peace and strength to endure. In line with that concept, this is when I try to hold it firmly in one of my favorite poems of the Bible. God’s promise in Philippians 4:19 is to provide according to our needs.
God always gives us what we need. That being said, what happens if God offers peace that surpasses understanding in the face of the pain we fear? Or he’s strong enough? If God really knows exactly what we need for our exact situation, is that exactly what God offers? And what if you say this is 100% true? The truth is that God’s provision protects us. All of us who love the Lord – He protects us. You and I can trust in the protection and power of our Savior Jesus, as God promises to provide us with what we need. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the richness of His glory of Christ Jesus.”
The ultimate promised protection is not necessarily seen to avoid all the factors, events, suffering and sorrows we fear in an uncertain future. The protection we all need is seen in the Lord’s promise to provide the absolute we need, in the face of the unknowns of the future.
Let’s pray:
God the Father, you are all powerful and my ultimate guardian. I want to feel your protection as I walk through life and all the unknowns surrounding me. Sometimes I’m afraid to meet and endure, but I know you’re always with me. Your protection may not guarantee my escape from difficulty, but I can trust you to exist and provide you with exactly what you need to face what is in my path. There is nothing that will surprise you, and there is nothing before me too big to provide you with what you need to feel the strength, peace, or the power of your existence. Follow the abundance of Jesus, Your Son, and help to increase my confidence in your offering and protection, knowing that you will undoubtedly meet all my needs. Your loyal name, Amen.
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Keri Eichberger is a Kentucky girl who loves Jesus. She is married to her best friend Mike and has a full house with five children. After writing for years of online audiences, Keri was ordained through the Southeast Christian Church, bringing full-time ministry to life. She is the author who soars with those who conquered and overcome Win Over Forse: Conquer what You, and is passionate about sharing faith-filled encouragement through prayer writing. Connect with Keri on Keriechberger.com or on Instagram.
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