For most of us, the word “protection” brings to mind safety and security. We all need to feel safe from harm; the question is where to find that safety. We may seek it through our own efforts, but this may not give us total peace of mind. Trusting in ourselves for our protection always leaves us uneasy; trusting in God to protect us from danger is a sure thing.

Trouble can present itself on many different levels and in many different ways; despite our best efforts, there’s no way to predict when it will show up. Trying to find safety behind brick walls or locked doors can give us a false sense of security. The safest place to be is in God’s presence. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7-10, NKJV). There’s no running away from God, or the protection we have in Him.

Part of what can strike fear in our hearts is the thought of running into a bad situation, and wondering if we’ll be able to handle it by ourselves. However, wherever we go, God goes with us. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee…” (Isaiah 41:10). We don’t have to depend on our own resources when we have someone much stronger than us watching our backs. When we feel inadequate and incapable of coping with something, we can trust that God will safely bring us through it.

Believers have a tremendous advantage in a world that’s in constant fear of evil and danger. Most people worry about what could happen if they got caught up in something they couldn’t get out of. We have peace of mind knowing that not only will God protect us from evil, He’ll also deliver us when we find ourselves in it. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me… Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:1, 4, 6). God is goodness and mercy, itself; being in His presence guarantees our safety.

Sometimes we may even need protection from ourselves and our own wrong-thinking. Without guidance from the Holy Spirit, we’re at risk of accidently causing trouble for ourselves because of our own poor judgment and bad decisions. He’s living in us; therefore, He can warn us away from a situation before we stumble into it, and redirect us onto more secure footing. “…Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland” (Psalm 143:10, MSG).

We have all we need for our peace and safety. Relying on God to keep us out of harm’s way allows Him to go to work on our behalf. While we do our part to stay safe, we know that His presence gives us complete protection. This lets us rest in everything we do.

To learn more about the safety and security we find in God, click below to see The Divine Protection Collection, which includes my book, Overcoming Fear, the series, How to Never Be Afraid Again, and an episode of my Your World television show.