Under His Wing

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4 (NLT)

I think I may be the only nature photographer in the world who doesn’t want nature on them. While I love capturing images of beautiful songbirds flitting back and forth from the crabapple tree in my front yard or a freshly spun spider web cascading from my deck railing–dewdrops sparkling in the morning sun–I do not want that bird to land on me nor the spider who spun the beautiful web to crawl on me.

Perhaps my fear of having nature on me started as a kid when my cousin put a sand crab down my bathing suit. I can still feel that thing wiggling! Regardless, because of this fear, the first part of Psalm 91:4 never evoked a sense of comfort for me. “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.” Why would the psalmist use the image of a bird to illustrate the certain and faithful protection of God?

As someone who doesn’t want bird feathers touching them, even I have to admit, after much research, there doesn’t seem to be a better or more beautiful way to paint the picture of God’s constant presence and protection.

I learned when storms come and threaten the life of a baby bird, rain beating down and wild winds wreaking havoc all around them, the adult bird tucks the baby bird under its wing. There, the young bird is kept dry, warm, and protected from the raging storm nestled in the down feathers of the adult bird, close to their chest.

Tucking the baby safely under its wing doesn’t stop the storm from coming. However, it provides a place of refuge and protection while the storm is present. What a beautiful truth this is for you and I!

I know I have experienced some turbulent storms in my life and I would imagine you have too. We’re likely to experience more storms because we’re told in John 16:33 that we will have trouble in this world, but the last part of Psalm 91:4 assures us that, “His faithful promises are [our] ARMOR and protection” (emphasis added).

Like the baby bird, we’re not exempt from the storms of life, but we do have a mighty refuge and shelter that keeps us from getting swept away when the winds blow cold and the hard rains of life sting. God’s faithful promises are the foundation of that shelter and refuge. His constant presence the wing with which He shelters us, pulling us closer to His breast where we can feel the warmth of His presence and surrender ourselves to His faithful promises knowing that He can be trusted.

There is a difference though between us and birds when the storms hit. The baby bird instinctively draws closer to the adult bird to nestle under their protective wing. We have to choose to draw closer to God and shelter under His wing.

Storms are always brewing and can sometimes come without warning. Where will you take refuge?