FreedomExemplo

Protected by the Power of God

I grew up a red-headed Daddy’s girl who considered herself strong, independent, and self-sufficient. As an adult, I realize I also grew up a people pleasing perfectionist whose love languages were words of affirmation and physical touch. This created a perfect storm for the enemy of my soul to work some major chaos in my heart, mind, and body during the first half of my life.

After forty-five years of life, my heart, mind, and body have been through a lot. I’ve been pushed to a breaking point pursuing athletic fitness, broken by stubborn grit refusing to ask others for help, wounded by words, marred by sinful choices made by myself and others, and hardened in attempts to act like everything is fine so no one sees how not fine I am. However, I have also experienced the grace and mercy of God and possess faith, hope, and love through the eternally relevant truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 1 Peter 1:3-8, we read that God’s great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through faith in Jesus to obtain an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and never fading. We are told we are protected by the power of God for a salvation yet to be revealed. In this passage, we learn it is this very hope which helps us press on, even rejoice, in the trials that we face.

Life can be hard. Things we worked so hard to obtain can be destroyed, lost, or stolen in a moment. Our bodies can be defiled by others, by sickness, and even our own bad choices. Our mind, physical abilities, and precious possessions, no matter how hard we try to maintain and keep hold of them, fade away. My red hair is now colored, my body occasionally struggles to simply walk, my mind fails me at times, and my daddy is now with Jesus, but it’s okay. My hope is in the Lord and my future is protected by the power of God.

Heavenly Father, the older I get, the more meaningful 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 becomes. I look forward to the day when my spirit, soul, and body are entirely sanctified and I stand before You whole, blameless, and without shame. May the proof of my faith result in praise, honor, and glory to You.

For Further Reading: John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6