Under God's Protection

Bringing a spiritual perspective to world events and daily life.

GOD'S protection for His creation is so complete and dependable that our reliance on Him protects us even when we don't think we need protection. There have been many times in my life when I was completely unaware of being in danger. Yet, looking back on such an experience, I can see very clearly that I was under God's protection all the time. I love the words from a hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal that assure us of God's constant care. The hymn points out, ''Year by year, Thy hand hath brought us / On through dangers oft unknown'' (No. 115).

The Bible gives us outstanding proofs of God's protection. And it shows us that God is always with us, guarding, guiding, protecting, and leading us into paths of righteousness. We all can see daily proofs of God's care, that is, of being under God's protection, even at times when we might not have known we needed His care.

My husband and I had such a proof of man's inseparability from God a short time ago. On this particular morning we had business and errands to take care of downtown. Before leaving home, we had both prayed, and studied passages from the Bible and from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as we normally do. Science and Health was written by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. We would be so grateful later that morning for the time that we had spent learning more about God, and man's relation to Him.

I know that I felt very close to God as we started for town. Our first stop was the bank. We were transacting our business seated at a large desk with our backs to the tellers' windows. The bank employee who had been helping us suddenly excused herself saying she would return shortly. When she returned she said, ''There is no need for alarm, and we don't want you to get excited. He is gone now, but we have just been robbed.'' My husband and I had known nothing of the event until it was all over. Even as we were being told what had happened, I was praying to understand the truth, that God never made a dishonest man. The next thought that I had was gratitude that no one had been harmed. We felt that everyone had been protected--the employees and everyone involved had been kept safe from harm.

The robber was apprehended later and brought to justice. We could see that God had indeed sent an angel before not only us, to keep us in the way, but also to keep safe everyone involved. Later, as I thought about what had happened, I remembered the statement in Science and Health where Mrs. Eddy says, ''God is at once the centre and circumference of being'' (pp. 203204). Elsewhere in Science and Health she refers to the ''great fact of being,'' assuring us, ''The transmission of disease or of certain idiosyncrasies of mortal mind would be impossible if this great fact of being were learned,--namely, that nothing inharmonious can enter being, for Life is God'' (p. 228). What a beautiful confirmation that we had been then, as we always are, under God's protection.

As we begin any of our daily activities, it is so comforting to know that the Christ has gone before us. By affirming this fact, we claim God's protection, not just for ourselves, but for everyone.

Christ Jesus knew he was always protected from harm by turning to his heavenly Father and yielding obediently to his oneness with Him. He says in the Gospel of Matthew, ''Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?'' (26:53)

We too can always claim our inseparability from God, thereby bringing ourselves under His protection.

My husband and I are more grateful each day for Christian Science and its teachings, and for the assurance that we are always under God's protection.

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. -- Psalms 91:10

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Under God's Protection
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0321/21171.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe