This past Friday morning, the sky kept shifting between partly cloudy and mostly cloudy. When I lifted the blind in the kitchen window, the first thing I noticed was the sun breaking through, which is always a beautiful sight early in the morning. Then something else caught my attention: the lone tree in our large backyard was casting an enormous shadow, stretching from near the back of our house all the way to the end of our property. It was not only long, but wide. I wanted to take a quick picture, but I knew the window and screen would stand out more than the shadow itself. So, I stepped outside onto the deck, and within seconds the sun slipped behind the clouds again. The great shadow was gone from sight.
That brief moment stayed with me because it gave me a picture of something spiritual: just because a shadow is no longer visible does not mean the One casting it is no longer present.
The Scripture that came to mind was Psalm 91:1: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” I love that verse, but I especially appreciate the way the Amplified Bible expands the thought, so I want to include the next few verses as well.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty, whose power no enemy can withstand. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust with great confidence, and on whom I rely!’ For He will save you from the trap of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.”
The thought came to me: even when I cannot always see God’s presence, I can still trust that He is there. There may be moments when the light does not seem to shine on a situation or circumstance, but the Almighty remains near. The key for us is to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. Perhaps you are wondering, “What does that mean?” Plainly stated, it means living within the atmosphere of His care. It is not only declaring, but also knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the Lord is our protector, provider, healer, Savior, and deliverer. As the psalmist declares in verse 2, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust with great confidence, and on whom I rely!’” So must we.
So let me ask: where have you made your dwelling place? Is it truly in the shelter of the Most High? If so, do you recognize the security and rest found beneath the vast covering of the Almighty? Do you understand that no power can stand against Him and succeed?
That, my friend, is the One who watches over us. While His disciples struggled in the middle of a storm, Jesus was in prayer. Scripture tells us that during the fourth watch of the night, between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning, Jesus walked out to them on the water. When they saw Him, they were deeply frightened, but in His calm and reassuring way, He said, “Don’t be afraid ... take courage. I am here!” [Matthew 14:27] When He came aboard, the storm ceased. Please understand this again: even when He is hidden from our view, He is never absent from our need.
So today, if the clouds have hidden what you hoped to see, be encouraged: the shadow of the Almighty has not disappeared. Keep dwelling in His shelter, keep trusting His care, and keep resting in the truth that He remains near, faithful, and able even when circumstances make His nearness harder to recognize.
Be blessed, my friend, and have a wonderful day.