God’s protection

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3
This is one of many comforting verses in the Bible reminding us about God’s protection. In those times when we feel threatened – physically, emotionally, financially – we can always call on God to help us and rescue us. In the psalms we read, “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Ps. 91:4). Elsewhere Jesus spoke of His longing to shelter the people of Israel like a mother hen gathering her chicks about her (Matt. 23:37).
God’s protection can take many forms. He protects us through warnings, given to us through the Holy Spirit prompting our conscience, and through His Word. He protects us supernaturally, in ways we often aren’t aware of.
This protection is the greatest when we are staying close to God. The house I grew up in was near a small stream, and every spring we would see lots of ducklings. Sometimes one mother duck would have as many as 15 or 16 ducklings, and there was a reason: many didn’t survive. They would stray too far and become prey for eels or cats. It was the ducklings that stayed close to their mother, that survived to grow into adults.
This is not a perfect analogy – Jesus has promised not to lose any of those who come to Him (John 6:37, John 10:28-29). But the closer we are to Him, the more attuned we are to His voice.