27 The Shadow of his Wings
THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS
There’s nothing like the furnace blast of dry heat that rises off the surface of the Arizona desert. I was only ten years old, and my cow pony and I had become separated from the rest of my family during an afternoon roundup on my Uncle Ted’s ranch.
The air sizzled. Even when I strained my eyes, searching the horizon for the others, the distant images only wavered like a mirage. I kicked my pony in the direction of a huge, red boulder. Wiping my brow with my hat, I climbed down to find shelter in the shadow of the rock. Out of the blinding glare, my eyes relaxed. I took a deep breath of the cooler air. It was, for me, a place of refuge.
That shadow was also a place of safety and refreshment as I twisted my hat, praying that someone would find me. Only thing was, I had to keep inching over to the left to keep up with the shifting shadow. It was a fickle friend. I didn’t mind too much, though. I was just relieved to picture myself, small and insignificant, huddling in the comforting shadow of what felt like almighty God. It was easier to pray because I felt protected and sheltered.
Within an hour I heard galloping hooves just over the dusty ridge. My family! And just in time. The changing shadow of the rock was about to disappear.
Shadows. Always moving.
Like Jonah crouching under the gourd vine, like a worried little cowgirl huddling against a desert boulder, we find shadows fickle friends.
Ah, but our Lord casts an unchanging shadow!
James 1:17 tells us that, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
That shadow never shifts, because our Father never changes. He’s not “evolving,” as some theologians would have us believe. He’s not transmutable, as other religions profess. No, He is constant and changeless. Always compassionate. Always merciful. Always just. Always holy. Always full of love. Always there.
The shadow of a mighty Rock, within a weary land.
The relief we find in His presence, the delight we find in an intimate relationship with Him, does not change with the passing of the hours, days, or years. The encouragement we find in His promises will not fail us when the heat of adversity bears down upon us. The security we find in His character will never vary though our lives turn upside down and the world changes around us. And when we find ourselves in a season of deep suffering, He moves in even closer. As David wrote (and he ought to know), “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
How wonderful to have His shadow fall across us. Psalm 91 begins by saying, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (NASB). The psalmist goes on to detail the many ways God protects His own, making them feel secure. In verses 11–12 we’re told, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (NIV).
Psalm 121 assures us that:
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life.
VV. 3–7
If we are willing to place our lives in His hands and our faith in His Word, He will richly reward us by making the passing of each day’s shadows a sign of His blessing to come.
You may fail Him—you will fail Him. But He will never fail you. Place your chair in the shadow of the Cross, and you will never have to move it.
A Step Closer
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
PSALM 63:7–8
“I the LORD do not change.”
MALACHI 3:6
Someone has said, “Lord, it can get awfully dark
under the shadow of Your wings.”
And it’s true. Our circumstances may become very bleak,
our skies may be socked in with a cloud cover so
heavy we think the sun will never shine again.
But over it all—over life, death, and eternity—
His wings overshadow and protect us.
We are His, and He will care for His own.
Take time today to meditate on Romans 8:18–27.