“His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.” Psalm 91:4 (TPT)
Have you ever felt like you needed a hug from God? After all, we have all had one of “those days”: days when no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get it all done, you can’t seem to please anyone, or everything goes wrong.
Additionally, there are other times when we struggle, or walk through a difficult season in life. Maybe it’s just me, but during these times, I kind of resent being told, even by well-meaning friends, that we should “glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4, NIV)
Of course, I know they are right. God uses grim times to grow our character. He always has good plans for us. I have experienced this countless times in my life. But when I am hurting, what I need, more than anything, is to feel God’s love, protection, and the comfort of His arms.
Therefore, at such times, I take comfort in this verse: “His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.” (Psalm 91:4, TPT)
God holds us in his arms because He loves us. He loves us when we walk through good times and bad. He even loves us when we’ve behaved poorly. You know, like resenting your well-meaning friends who spoke the truth in love. In fact, God loved us so much He sent Jesus to save us, despite our sins. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2: 4-5, NIV)
This memory helps me understand God’s love. I was at the end of a long hard day. My two-year-old daughter has insisted on doing everything her way from the moment she got up. She’d been throwing tantrums, biting her brother, and refusing to go to bed. When she finally fell asleep, I pulled up her covers, looked down at her, and thought how beautiful she was. As she lay there snuggling her blanket, she looked like an angel. And in that moment, love and gratitude filled my heart. All I could do was sigh and thank God. This, my friend, is how God sees us! He loves His children so much! And He’s holding us tight in his arms.
So, never forget, no matter what you are going through, God has you in His loving arms. He looks down at you with love, holding you close to his heart. God said, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49: 15-16a, NIV)
Dear Heavenly Father, Let me never forget that you love me and hold me in your arms, no matter what I am going through or have done. Thank you for your unconditional, undeserved love. May this love fill me up and overflow into those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
