It was April, just a little over three years ago when I found myself in a new routine.  I had spent the last several months of weekday mornings sitting in the living room of my parent’s home.  My mom was just a room away sleeping through her pain, and I was curled up on the couch praying and worshipping and crying all at the same time.  I just had to spend as much time with her as I possibly could because my time with her this side of heaven was coming to an end.

This particular morning I had an encounter with Jesus that still to this day just takes my breath away.  In these months of learning to cherish, memorizing the sound of her voice, the creases in her hands, the way she laughed, and laying beside her in bed, Jesus was ever so close and ever so real to me.  I had opened up my Bible to listen to His voice as the dove outside the window were cooing and singing His joy, and like the giant golden bowls in the throne room of heaven filled with each and every prayer that had been prayed for my mama, He tipped them over and poured out a word for me-Spirit to Spirit.  I had no earthly idea what this Word would come to mean to me over the next three years.  But He did.  He knew how I would cling to His truth and His heart and His Word and hold on dearly to my faith in Him because He saw all that was coming before I did.

So I sat in the living room on her maroon wool rug with my iPhone in hand, and my thumbs typing away in my cute little “notes” app.  It was His promise to me, and a declaration of all that He would teach me in the years to come.  As the next weeks and months that passed took me through the deepest valley I have ever walked,  Jesus was whispering, “I am going before you. I am with you.  I am your Shield.  I am.”

Shield

In the midst of a raging, destructive, seemingly never-ending storm, you called out to me. You pulled me out of the enormity of the storm with your strong right hand, and set my feet on a rock (salvation) that was higher than I, and You whispered My name (daughter of Zion, beautiful, Tikvah, victorious) I had never heard these names before, but I knew they were mine. Holy and dearly loved, minister of reconciliation, redeemed, chosen one, heir to Your throne, radiant, beloved bride, royal priesthood, and all I could hear was the gentle quiet voice of your spirit speaking my names, your truths, your Word and your Life and I heard Your voice calling me to seek your Presence.
I cried out saying, “I hear you faithful One. I will stay on this Rock, but all I can see is the raging storm. The wind is loud and relentless and takes my breath. The storm clouds are dark and tumultuous and I feel as though they will overtake my soul. The rain is pounding and painful.” Your Spirit answered quickly telling me to breathe in the breath of Life that comes only from you. Immediately my lungs cleared and the fresh breath of My creator invaded my inner being with Life.
You opened your Word to my newly unveiled eyes and spoke of your shield that protects me, and I looked about me on that Rock, and in an instant the waves that surrounded me were being held back by a fortress of prayer and divine power and Your mighty shield. The waves and rain were pounding the fortress, but none could touch me.
Inside of your protection the drenching, beating rain stopped and the rock I was standing on was bone dry. I stumbled to get my bearings and didn’t know what to do here in this Hiding Place. In that moment, You took me by the hand and humbled me as only a loving and gracious Savior Longs to do. You allowed me to see that You would rebuild my foundation on this Rock, not because of anything I had done, but because of your great love for me. You were offering me a sanctuary in the midst of this crushing storm. It became Your perfect gift tied up in a surprising package that would allow me to experience the fullness of your love.
Your wrap-around love then began to wash over me, and cleanse me, and free me, and sanctify my soul in the very place that was set up for my destruction. My eyes began to see as they never had seen before. Your voice that was once a whisper was crystal clear and ever-present and a sweet song to me. Your creation even sang to me, and you washed me and cleansed me with your Word. I began to experience your love in a way I had never known.
Could your love really be this deep and high and extravagant?  In your
presence and your throne room, You anointed me with your oil of joy and
you exchanged my grave clothes for Your holy garments. Your presence brought a new life song, your joy was poured out on me. I began praising you in my storm, singing and dancing and laughing.  And you continued to sing of your great love for me.
A new reign began to fall in this place of protection. It was your Holy Reign, with the sweetest aroma, and it followed me everywhere I went. My storm had not changed, but my eyes didn’t even perceive my storm any longer. My soul (the seat of my being-my mind, my will and my emotions)
was only aware of the Shield and the opportunity I had been given to
Victoriously Live in your Reign.

I don’t know your story.  I may not know the depths of your pain or heartache or sorrow the way you do, but I do know that no matter what you are experiencing, Jesus has not and will not leave you nor forsake you.  He has gone behind you and before you into your unknown tomorrows, and He shields your very soul with the depths of His love.  If you are in your darkest valley, He is with you.  He will rebuild and heal and restore and pour out His love upon all of the brokenness deep in your soul.  It’s sometimes the most unlikely circumstances that He has the deepest revelation and most beautiful treasures to pour out upon you. He is ever so near to you.  His Word is waiting and longing to mend and sew and put the pieces back together again.  Meet with Him in your sorrows, or your goodbyes, in your pain and questioning.  He longs to be gracious to you and pour His Spirit out to you.

Jesus, I thank you for your Shield of Protection, the depths of your love, and the promises of restoration and strength and healing and blessing that you give to those who love you.  Thank you for being my Faithful Strength, my Rock, the Mender of Soul.  In your presence there is deep healing.  I choose the hidden place and the Shield of your Love.

Psalm 91:1  Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Revelation 5:8  And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.