Protection is not necessarily a sign of the hand of God

When bad things happen we as Christians can be quick to equate the protection of any single individual with the hand of God. But protection is not necessarily a sign of God’s favor.

While we memorize Psalm 91 with its promises of protection, we ought to balance this with the Jesus’ assertion in John 15: “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” Over and over he told his disciples they would be attacked for their faith.

Paul’s testimony demonstrates this in action: “They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul says:

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

Attacks may very well be signs you are in the midst of God’s work; whereas safety might also arise from the Enemy, lulling us into a false sense of security, serenity and apathy. We cannot see everything happening right now, and we should not equate deaths or the failure of a nation-state’s strategy with a failure of the Kingdom and the goals of God. In the long run, the seed that falls into the ground and dies can yield much fruit; whereas the stalk that stands may very well abide alone, with little harvest.

The best we can do is face each situation, asking how we might live as a Christ-follower in the midst of it, how we can do the most for the Kingdom, how we can advance the will of God on earth – “May your Kingdom come, may your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”