Wildfires; political unrest; countries at war… Seems as though there are lots of reasons for us to be fearful. Honestly, fear in itself isn’t bad. It can make us stop and think, “Is this a good idea?” before we do something foolhardy or outright dangerous. But fear that cripples or overwhelms isn’t the way to live, because it’s basically proclaiming we do not trust God. Our Lord is a sure, ever-present, ever-ready defense for any who call Him Father. There are some powerful descriptors for God here: most High (derived from the Hebrew word, elyon, which refers to His sovereignty and superiority over all things) and the Almighty (the one who rules over all things; or el Shaddai, the “mountain one” who stands firm). Since nothing or no one is greater than He, nothing can provide greater security than He. The “secret place” to which the psalmist referred isn’t so much a physical location as an emotional/spiritual one. Being under His shadow means we are protected. Now, you’re probably thinking, “If He protects me, then why am I facing hardship right now?” The answer harkens back to that secret place. God sometimes provides physical safety, and He always offers spiritual/emotional safety. Wherever we are, He is with us. So we can rest assured that whatever fearful situation comes our way, He will not leave us to face the challenge on our own.