Sheltered by the Love That Never Fails

If God is love, and love never fails, then we can be assured that with God all things are possible. There is nothing too difficult for Him. The things that are impossible for us are effortless for God. What overwhelms us does not overwhelm Him. What scares us does not scare Him. What feels too heavy for us to carry is still held securely in His hands.

On my morning visit to see Sydney in the NICU, I saw something that was both precious and a little frightening.

As I was walking down the corridor, a newborn was being brought to the nursery where the “normal babies” go after they are born. All of a sudden, ahead of me, a grandmother began making her way toward that nursery. You could tell she was determined to lay eyes on that baby. I remember thinking, “If anyone gets between her and that child, it is going to get real ugly, real quick.” It would have been like coming between a mother bear and her cubs.

There was something fierce and beautiful about it. She was not casually walking. She was on a mission. She wanted to see that baby, protect that baby, love that baby, and be close to that baby.

And in that moment, I thought about the heart of God toward His children.

If earthly love can be that protective, how much more protective is the love of our Heavenly Father? If a grandmother can move with that kind of determination just to see her grandchild, how much more does God move toward us when we are hurting, afraid, weak, or vulnerable?

The same is true with God and His children. No matter how big the opposition is, no matter what we are facing, no matter how frightening the report may be, our protection comes from the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 reminds us, “No weapon forged against you will prevail.” That does not mean weapons will never form. It means they will not have the final victory. Trouble may rise, fear may whisper, sickness may attack, and uncertainty may surround us, but none of it is greater than the God who surrounds us.

God is our ever-present help in time of need. His heart is tender toward His children. When our hearts break, He is not distant or unconcerned. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That means He is near in the NICU. He is near in the hospital hallway. He is near in the sleepless nights. He is near when the tears come. He is near when we feel strong, and He is near when we are barely holding it together.

One of the places I love to turn when I feel alone, afraid, or vulnerable is Psalm 91. That chapter reminds us that we can abide in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty. It tells us that He is our refuge and fortress, our God in whom we trust. It reminds us that His faithfulness will be our shield and rampart.

I love that picture.

God’s faithfulness becomes a shield around us. Not our strength. Not our understanding. Not our ability to figure everything out. His faithfulness. When everything around us feels uncertain, His faithfulness remains steady. When the diagnosis changes, He remains the same. When the waiting gets long, He remains present. When our emotions rise and fall, His love does not.

In the middle of peril, when we call out to the Lord, He does not ignore us. He reaches toward us. He wraps His arms around us. He comforts us with a peace that does not always make sense to the world, but somehow holds us together when we should be falling apart.

That is what I am learning in this season with Sydney.

There are moments when I feel afraid. There are moments when I feel helpless. There are moments when I would do anything to trade places with her. But there are also moments when the presence of God settles over my heart and reminds me that Sydney is not only in the care of doctors and nurses. She is in the hands of the One who formed her, loves her, and knows every breath before she takes it.

One parallel that gives me great peace is realizing that God is my Rock, and that same Rock is present in every season. He is not only the God of the mountaintop. He is also the God of the valley. He is not only with us when everything is going well. He is with us when everything feels uncertain. The same Rock runs from our lowest valleys to our highest mountaintop experiences.

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” That means the God who was faithful before is faithful now. The God who carried us through past seasons will carry us through this one. The God who heard our prayers yesterday still hears them today. The God who made a way before can make a way again.

When David fled into the mountains for safety, he discovered that his true protection did not come from the rocks around him, but from the Lord above him. Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

The mountain may have provided shelter, but God provided security.

That is important for us to remember. Hospitals can provide care. Doctors can provide wisdom. Nurses can provide comfort. Medicine can provide treatment. But ultimately, our help comes from the Lord. He is the Maker of heaven and earth. He is the Great Physician. He is the One who gives breath, sustains life, strengthens the weak, and carries the weary.

God promises us His presence and protection. That does not mean He prevents every trial, tragedy, or painful season. Sometimes He allows things we do not understand. Sometimes He permits battles we would never choose. But even when He allows the valley, He gives us the strength to walk through it. Even when He allows the storm, He is still Lord over the wind and waves. Even when He allows the trial, He gives us the spiritual strength not only to endure, but to overcome.

When we trust God, He will never let us down. That does not mean everything will always happen according to our timeline. It does not mean the answer will always come the way we expected. It means His character will never fail us. His love will never abandon us. His grace will never run out. His presence will never leave us.

When opposition seems to attack from every side, God is still able to bring victory. Deuteronomy 28:7 says, “They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.” That is the kind of God we serve. What comes against us united can be scattered by the power of God. What looks intimidating in front of us is nothing compared to the One who stands beside us.

So today, I am choosing to trust Him. I am choosing to believe that His love is stronger than my fear. His protection is greater than the opposition. His faithfulness is stronger than the uncertainty. His presence is closer than the pain.

And I am reminding myself that when the enemy tries to come against a child of God, he is not just coming against us. He is coming against the One who calls us His own.

A loving grandmother may fight her way down a hallway to see her grandbaby, but our Heavenly Father moves with perfect power, perfect love, and perfect authority on behalf of His children. He sees us. He knows us. He covers us. He fights for us. He shelters us under His wings.

So when life feels frightening, when the battle feels intense, and when the enemy seems to press in from every side, we can stand on this truth:

We are not abandoned.

We are not uncovered.

We are not unprotected.

We belong to the Lord.

And when you mess with one of God’s children, you are going to get far more than just the horn. You are going to have to deal with the whole Bull.