The air bag on the passenger’s side of Priscilla’s car deployed correctly and effectively, and her passenger was not hurt. However, Prisilla’s air bag did not deploy correctly. Her left eye began to swell immediately while she was receiving medical attention for her injuries after the crash. Doctors discovered that the impact of the air bag had caused Priscilla’s left retina to detach. This caused driving problems, headakes, and eye strain in her future.
Between 1987 and 2017, air bags saved the lives of more than 50,400 people, but it is apparent that they can also be detrimental. So while no pun is intended, you now see how they can be a real mixed bag.
However, I am not trying to discourage their use. I am simply making the point that all of us need to grab ahold of God’s truth for us. Or, to put it another way, we need to let God’s truth grab ahold of us. So first I would like to talk about what you and I only presume upon–namely, God’s protection.
We have some neat little verses in our pre-packaged theology, which we enjoy hanging onto and quoting. Those verses include this one:
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5, NIV)
Next, please look at Psalms 46 with me.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2, NIV)
I am not saying that God isn’t a protection. He certainly is, and I know that He has shielded me from many things in my life. However, if I only trust my feelings when the collisions and accidents of life come along, it doesn’t always seem like God is close at hand.
Maybe you are going through something right now, and you don’t understand what God is doing. “Protection?” you say, scratching your head. “What protection?”
This question arises because most of us in America are taught to see God as a giant cushion–a kind of cosmic pillow–which stands between us and trouble. According to this viewpoint, He is obligated to protect us from all hardships and calamities.
Or is He? And if He is, just what does that mean?
While writing this blog entry, I had to search the scriptures to find answers to those questions, because if I am being totally honest, this blog has challenged my thinking regarding the way I see God. Rather than seeing Him as an air bag that is designed to be deployed at my beck and call, I decided I should view Him in a more scriptual framework.
While God is my shield and fortress, He is also my soverign King. That simply means that He calls the shots, and I don’t. Sometimes I have a hard time with that, but I like to think that I would give my all to the one who gave His all for me.
Suffering isn’t a concept that I readily embrace, but if it comes to that, suffering for Christ is quite a different story. The Bible makes it clear that I can rejoice even while suffering, because He is my prize, and He in control of my life.
One Bible story that I like to draw courage from, is about the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace. They knew where they were going, and they saw God as their greatest treasure. So if He didn’t deliver them, they knew that God had something infinitely better in store for them.
Another inspirational story plays out when Paul and Silas were in prison. They were bleeding and in pain, but the prison doors were unlocked as they rejoiced in Christ, despite their mental and physical torture.
What is your prison today? If you will trust God during good times and bad accidents, and you will praise Him from the heart instead of living by feelings, I promise you that God can unlock your prison doors in His own special way.
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870.
Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Tuesday night Bible study. These studies are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 6:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 313-209-8800. Our PIN is 8699032. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.