Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. (Psalm 3:2-6, NIV)
My well of hope had run dry.
Our son was deployed for the second time, and we weren’t receiving the communication I’d expected. During his first tour, he’d spent the entire time in the Middle East assigned to a single base. This time, as a bomb dog handler, he was shipped from place to place. He was never anywhere long enough for us to even send a care package.
Four months in and my nerves were frayed from anticipating phone calls that never came, email messages that never appeared and Skype requests that never rang. I felt abandoned by God and let fear for my son and what he was facing dominate my thoughts.
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Then one evening I began reading the book of Psalms. I tried to read this book through every couple of months, and it was time to start again. The section above caught my eye, and I felt God’s Spirit speaking to my soul.
I’d taken the attitude that God would not deliver my son. The words on that page reminded me that God was indeed a shield around him, no matter where my son was or what he was facing.
The Spirit assured me that God had heard my cry and answered me. I could sleep in peace—not fear—knowing that no matter how many enemies our son faced, God was there with him.
