by Linda Veath
My heart is in anguish within me; … Fear and trembling have beset me … I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest — I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.” ~ Psalm 55:4-8 NIV
Oh, that I could fly away, be at rest, sheltered from the storms of life! Sickness. Financial and economic uncertainty. Terrorism. Decisions. Politics. Indeed, any of those things can easily make us want to fly away (Actually, there are many days when I’d settle for pulling the covers over my head and not coming out till all is well. Guess that won’t happen either.)
Because our world is in turmoil, and we don’t know what lies ahead for us, flying away and hiding sounds so good. Just as it sounded good to King David as he penned the words to Psalm 55.
David, the “man after God’s own heart,” wanted to fly away and hide. But he didn’t. He knew that God would hide him, protect him, and sustain him through it all.
We can be assured of that too because God’s grace is sufficient for us in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s plans for us are perfect (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28). He will meet all our needs in Christ (Philippians 4:19). And, God’s firm foundation—Jesus Christ—stands (1 Timothy 2:19), now and forever. We can take shelter in the shade of His wings till the storms pass by (Psalm 57:1). In fact, He is with us even through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23).
And for the “worldly” things going on right now? There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by Him (Romans 13:1). All the nations are like a drop in the bucket to the Lord (Isaiah 40:15). While they may plot against Him, He sits in heaven and laughs (Psalm 2:2,4), because every leader’s heart is in His hand and He turns it wherever He wills (Psalm 21:1).
Yes, our world is in turmoil. Our surroundings may seem unstable. But Jesus is the sure foundation. He is the One we fly to, knowing that God will hide us, protect us, and sustain us until every storm passes by.