Sheltered or Rescued?

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16 NLT)

Those who 'shelter' under his wings will be assured of not only protection, but rescue when they need it. Protection is remaining out of trouble - rescue is needed when we pursue trouble or find it pursuing us! We might not realize just how often we pursue trouble, blindly just going in the wrong direction, trusting our 'instincts' or 'intuition' instead of our God's inner voice warning us not to pursue that course. There we are - "IN TROUBLE" - and here he comes - into our trouble, to rescue and hold secure once again.

How many times do we have to be 'in trouble' before we realize that it isn't the right place for us to be? If you are anything like me, you have pursued trouble more often than you'd like to admit. You have just gone after it like it had some allure you just couldn't resist. It might have been doing something you knew wasn't God's plan, or as simple as butting your nose into someone's business that you didn't really have any part of until you did. Bet that neither of those worked out well for you either!

It is certainly a good thing we can call out to God and he hears us, even when we have pursued paths he warned us against! If he turned a deaf ear or a blind eye to those of us who have pursued the wrong course in life, none of us would be left in the shelter! It would be barren because we have ALL done it - gone the wrong way, chosen the wrong course, involved ourselves in not so wise choices. Most of the time, we do it without even taking notice, but we can rest assured that God notices. He notices and has prepared for our rescue!

It is indeed a great thing to be wise, remaining under the shelter of his wing, cared for and safe. It is also a wonderful thing that we have one who rescues when we choose to be like the wayward chick who leaves the safety of his protection for even one moment. That wing goes back out, drawing us back in, making us secure once again. The chick didn't mean to be in harm's way but was just 'curious' about something they saw, heard, and were attracted to. That is how it is with us and sin most of the time - we are just attracted to it. 

Until that attraction is finally broken, it is good to know his watchful eye will draw us back until we realize the futility of following that course of action. We love him, but we love ourselves, too. We hear him, but we hear the call of sin's enticement, as well. Until we hear his voice clearer than sin's call, his wing will continue to rescue us back inside the safety of his shelter. Once that voice becomes clearer and louder than sin's call, we 'shelter' there on our own, knowing very well that it is the very best place to be. Just sayin!