How to Hide Under God’s Wing

We’re living in troublesome times. Between a pandemic, controversial vaccines and mandates, and devastating foreign policies, anxiety and fear can rule our actions and thoughts. If you find yourself in that place today, let the promises of God’s Word wash over you. Psalm 91 is one of my favorites.

I’ve prayed this scripture for soldiers deployed, for friends and family.

I’ve prayed it for myself.

“Protect us Lord! We desperately need your protection. Place us in your shadow. Cover us.”

I love the image verse four paints: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge” (Psalm 91:4).

Can you feel the warmth of His feathers? Can you hear the rhythm of His breath and heartbeat?

Finding Refuge in God

It’s a lovely thought. But how do we crawl up under the wings of God? I used Blueletterbible.org to dig into the ancient texts.

What I discovered is, in order to hide under the God’s wing, we have to put ourselves there.

The words “find refuge” in Psalm 91:4 are translated from the Hebrew word Chasah. Notice its different meanings:

• to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in:—have hope, make refuge, (put) trust.

In other words, placing oneself under God’s wings means trusting Him.

But how do we do that when all seems to be falling apart? When someone we love is suffering with a terrible physical or mental illness, or we lose our job, or one bad thing after another punches us in the stomach? When life crumbles, it’s tempting to believe God is angry with us. Can’t He control everything and keep us from suffering?

When bad things happen, we are tempted to run from God rather than to Him. But running from Him means leaving the safety of God’s wings and finding ourselves with no protection at all. Remember, the key to hiding in God is trusting Him.

Hidden In Christ

Read Paul’s words of advice to the people in the church in Colossae:

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3).

Some of us simply need to go outside and look up. Look at that beautiful expanse filled with fluffy, floating clouds and soft blue skies. Catch a glimpse of the sunrise and set your mind on God’s faithfulness. He has not left us. The Creator is still working it all out.

Covered with Christ in God

While reading Paul’s words again the other day, I wondered what it means to be hidden in Christ. I found the word hidden in the Greek also connotes being covered. Here’s how the prophet Ezekiel wrote about God covering Israel:

‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine” (Ezekiel 18:8).

Ruth asked her kinsman redeemer, Boaz, a type of Christ, to cover her as an act of redemption.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family” (Ruth 3:9).

When we’ve placed our trust in God and Christ Jesus we have been clothed, covered, hidden in Him.

Let Hard Times Grow Your Faith

The hardest, yet most wonderful thing about trust is, it’s our choice. Desperate days may tempt me to be angry with God. But I find my faith grows when I choose:

• when I chose God’s way over my own.
• When I chose to believe God is always good.
• When I chose to wait on Him instead of demanding my way.
• When I choose to believe instead of giving up.

Let God Cover You

Knowing what it means to “find refuge” in God not only helps us know how to pray Psalm 91 for ourselves, but for those we love. “Help her trust you Lord. Help her run under your wing, straight to your heart and hold onto you. Amen.”

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wing until the disaster has passed.

(Psalm 57:1b)

How will you “crawl up under” God’s wings today? What will that look like in your life? What do you need to trust Him with?

If you enjoy Andy’s writing, check out the trailer for her latest Bible study. I’m reading it now and loving it.