By Wangari Murathe

When we are struggling financially, with illness or other troubles we need to snuggle under God's great wings. They are big enough to support us; and all others who come

to Him.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart". ~ Psalm 91:4 NIV.

The human condition drives us to seek for security because a lot of things often go wrong. We struggle with our finances, we get sick, we get old and weak, others disappoint and betray us, we fear that people will come to our houses to rob us, and so on.

The Bible comforts us and says in Psalm 91:4,” He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Here, the gathering, protective love of God is compared to that of a mother hen. The “cluck, cluck, cluck” of a mother hen gathers her defenseless tender chicks to her. She leads them to food. They obediently follow her because they have full trust that she cares for their welfare. She cries out to them when she senses danger. They chicks gather under her wings where they are safe from hawks and other predators. She is fierce in protecting them and will give her life to protect them from danger. The mother’s wings also offer warmth when it is cold and the comforting assurance that they are not alone as they feel her warm body and her gently beating heart.

God’s love reaches out to us to show us the right path that will offer sustenance and protection from the world. The blood of Christ, his righteousness and salvation offers us a protective shield that prevents our troubles from consuming us. It is our faith in Him, His Word and the Holy Spirit that indwells in us that consists of the wing of feathers under which we shelter. There is a deep yearning in us to be united with God. It is only under his wings that our hearts can rest. When we return to God we have a sense of deep peace and joy; irrespective of our circumstances.

But God does not force us to come to Him. He gathers those that answer His call. He wants us to love him and acknowledge our helplessness without Him.  He says, “He will call on me, and I will answer him;    I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” Isaiah 91:15. Call on Him and snuggle up under His mighty wings. He will work through your situation in an amazing way. With Him no harm will overtake you.

"If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer – His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable" John Newton