Psalm 91 & John 16: The Protection of the Most High
Written by Jada Grace Wells
Psalm 91 says God will protect us, that no evil will conquer us.
I’ll be honest: this used to be hard for me to believe. After losing my mom to cancer a few years ago, I struggled to trust the promises found in Psalm 91, like “He will protect you from deadly disease” and “No plague will come near your home.”
But then Jesus spoke into this tension in John 16. He tells us we will face trouble and suffering of many kinds, but He says, “Take heart, I have overcome the world.”
That is the protection God promises, not that evil won’t touch us, but that it will never have the victory. Jesus has overcome the world.
“If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you, no plague will come near your home.” Psalm 91:9-10 NLT
My mom had to walk through cancer, but she was never conquered by it. In the last two years of her life, I never saw her more at peace, joyful, hopeful, and fearless. Evil may have touched her body, but it never touched her heart. She wasn’t conquered by cancer; she was protected by the Most High.
Psalm 91 and John 16 together give us a clear picture of God’s protection. It’s not protection from suffering, it’s protection from being defeated by it.
With that truth, I began reading Psalm 91 with new eyes:
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
His faithful promises will be your armor and protection.
You will not fear the terror of the night.
I will be with you in trouble.
No evil will conquer you.
This is the protection God promises us. This is why we can take heart in every trial of this life. We may face suffering now, but evil will never have the final word. Jesus has already won!
As we start this new year, let’s pray as a church for God’s protection—not from hardship, but from defeat. Ask Him to protect you and your family’s peace, hope, and joy, so that no matter what trials lie ahead, our hearts will not be defeated.
Father,
I know I will face troubles of many kinds.
Just as Jesus wasn’t exempt from suffering, I know I will also face suffering by the hands of evil, and so I need Your protection to cover me.
Protect my peace.
Protect my joy.
Give me Your rest in the shadow of Your wings. Armor me with Your faithful promises.
Protect me from the traps I may be walking into. Give me hope and unshakeable courage in the face of uncertainty.
Do not let evil conquer me.
I choose to rest in the promise that no matter what I face, You will be with me.
You will uphold me. I can take heart, for You have overcome the world.
So I will not be afraid, for I dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You are my God and I trust You.
Amen.
Wow.
Thank you for that, Jada.
So good