I keep thinking I need to read less of the news and more of my Bible. Ebola, ISIS, Enterovirus D68 (causing kids to experience respiratory distress and polio-like symptoms), these headlines make the world seem more dangerous than ever.

But is it?

The truth is war and epidemics have raged since the beginning of time.

My great-grandmother Josephine, a pretty woman from a wealthy Los Angeles family, died from the Spanish flu. Half her children perished with her. My Grandpa John, three-years-old at the time in the City of Angels, survived this pandemic, but never had a full head of hair again. High fever from the flu that nearly took his life destroyed his hair follicles.

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered, don’t be afraid:you are worth more than many sparrows” Luke 12:7. I read this yesterday in my devotions. God has numbered the hairs on our head and even numbered our days. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16. 

Believing the Bible helps me feel safe in an unsafe world.

And I remind myself God has appointed angels over those who love Him.

Here is my angel story:

Eight years ago, Scott and I experienced a near car crash that probably would have killed us. Speeding down a back country road, we came upon a slow-moving hay truck. Scott whipped around to pass. Without warning the truck and trailer began turning down a long dirt driveway. That turn put us in the path of disaster. It happened so fast.

The hay truck driver never saw us. Not till the near accident was all but over. To avoid a high speed collision, Scott whipped the steering wheel, sending us sideways. Our SUV tipped on two wheels, righted itself by an unseen force, then sped down the long dirt driveway a hair’s breath away from the hay truck. It still amazes me we avoided that accident.

When it ended, we sat there shaken in our Expedition in a cloud of dust in the field. I keep a Bible and a daily devotional in our glove compartment. All I wanted was to hear from God. With trembling hands, I pulled out the devotional first. The day’s entry read: “For He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways,” Psalm 91:11.

Picking up the Bible, I then read Psalm 91 to Scott as we slowly got back on the road. I believe that day angels protected us from the accident.

After the accident that didn’t happen, I memorized Psalm 91.

Then I began to study it. Using Charles H. Spurgeon’s The Treasury of David, I discovered Psalm 91 is actually attributed to Moses. I’d thought King David wrote the psalm. I also learned Psalm 91 is not a promise to everyone, but for those who continually dwell in God’s presence.

To continually dwell with God is not an easy thing, but I saw something that inspired me to stay close to Jesus. Down the road from us is river land. Towering oaks. Green grass. Vines wrapping the river banks. Here is where the sheep graze in summertime. And with them the faithful shepherd, as well as four diligent dogs. There is no modern way to guard sheep. At night the shepherd pens his sheep and sleeps right beside them in a little camp trailer. During the day, he stands with the sheep keeping them safe. As long as the sheep don’t wander off they are protected. The dogs are constantly prowling, fending off predators. When I saw those dogs circling the sheep, I thought of God’s angels.

The Bible says if we stay close to the Good Shepherd, He will protect us no matter how dangerous our world becomes until He takes us home to heaven.

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