The year was 1990 and I was 13 years old. Charles, a good friend of mine, and I had decided to go camping at Pine Mountain in Columbus, Ga. We had my parents drop us off early so we could spend some time hiking. As night began to fall we made our way to a campsite so we could set up our hammocks under the stars. The weather had other ideas as a storm began to blow in and the thunder started to rumble. It wasn’t long before we felt the light touches of the sprinkling rain. We had no covering or tents to retreat to in order to keep ourselves dry. If you enjoy camping, you know there is nothing more miserable than trying to sleep when you’re completely soaked.
From the darkness of the forest that surrounded us a light began to break through the shadows between the trees as a group of campers made their way down the trail to the campsite. From behind the lantern I heard, “Evening boys, you guys ready for the storm?” To which we replied, “No sir, we didn’t know it was going to rain.” As we began to talk I realized that I knew the man and his son, it was Don Burke and his son Shane. Mr. Don said, “Well, I got you covered.” He then graciously hung a large tarp over a line that he had stretched to cover one of the hammocks, creating a dry place for Charles and I to sleep for the night. Happenstance? I think not.
From time to time we all have experienced moments like this in life when we make plans and set out with the ideal in mind only to find ourselves in a moment of chaos. The devil is good at his job, and is steadily seeking whom he may devour. But just like Mr. Don, God is there saying, “I got you covered.” God is faithfully present to cover us from the unexpected storms that try to bring ruin to our lives.
Psalms 91:4 says, “He shall COVER you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” The word “cover” in the original Hebrew gives the understanding of blocking, overshadowing, and stopping the approach of and shutting off. Because we have chosen to set up camp in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty, God through Christ blocks the enemy. He stands over us and brings a stop to the enemy’s approach in our lives. He turns the faucet off to the terror and attack that is trying to rain down fear to dampen our spirits.
Protection is not something that we must achieve or buy into like insurance. There’s no monthly payment or deductible to meet.Your coverage will never be dropped and your insurance provider will never tell you that they no longer carry your plan. It’s the “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you” plan. It’s the plan that is in constant pursuit of you and that never waits for a call. It’s asking, “Do you need coverage for this moment? If so I got you covered.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” Our coverage is accessed by faith in the words God speaks to us. It really doesn’t matter what the enemy brings or what circumstances arise in our lives. We simply stand in the full assurance and awareness of the love that God has for us. It’s in the times when we try to figure out how God is going to cover us that we fail to see His ability in the situation. If I may suggest, stop trying to figure it all out. The natural mind will only see the ways that you can fix it, and we all know how limited that is and how it causes things to only look even more impossible.The natural mind will only try and convince you of your faults, failures and past sins to persuade you of why you don’t deserve to be covered.
COVERAGE ALERT!We are born of love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and according 1 Peter 4:8 it covers a multitude of sins. We are the redeemed and made righteous ones. God says, “You have financial needs?” “I got you covered!” “Are you in need of healing?” “I got you covered” “Has the terror of the world tried to creep in and speak lies of death and destruction?” “Don’t even give it a thought, I got you covered.” 1 John 5:18 says, “WE KNOW that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God, is guarded (covered) by Him and the wicked one does not touch him.
Mandy and I are continually amazed by God’s goodness in our life. Every time we are given an opportunity to panic or even feel as though it’s going to be a long, rainy, uncovered night, God shows up and reminds us that we are under the “I got you covered” plan. We want you to know that we are in agreement with God’s coverage for your life and stand praying in agreement that this summer will be one that radiates a constant reminder of how good God is and how faithful His coverage is in every area of your life.