For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover him with favor as with a shield. – Psalm 5:12

Tacks bearing prayer reminders and Bible verses haphazardly litter the cork board behind my desk, a stark contrast to the orderly home around it. In a fading but elegant script on a torn piece of notebook paper is written Psalm 5:12. It reminds me of a the kindness of a stranger and the faithfulness of my God.

Years ago our family endured one trial after another to the point that a friend actually told me she hoped we would repent of whatever God was trying to show us so we could move on. My heart was inclined toward the Lord, and I used every opportunity throughout those trials to point others to Christ, so her callousness stung.

The verse was the gift of a friend of a friend, a woman whom I never met but who faithfully prayed per our mutual friend’s request. She had heard of my love for the Lord and my service before Him, and she was convinced my God would be the lifter of my head. He was. He is.

It’s as if Satan knew I had planned today to write about my increased resolve toward faithfulness, even while certain worldly concerns continue to be thorns in my flesh. Even as I write this, may the heaviness of my heart serve to strengthen my resolve.

Satan, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), has seen my increased resolve and has responded in kind. But Sunday night reminded me of God’s mercy and watchcare over those whose hearts are surrendered to Him.

It was during one of those apocalyptic Florida storms. The wind blew sideways, sending rain through the narrow gap above our front door and into our foyer. Thunder shook the house as lightning struck ever closer, until finally flames shot out through a light switch, scorching the switch and the wall behind it.

Our modem and cable hardware were fried. Wall sockets were rendered useless. Brand-new lightbulbs were sizzled. A monitor sat uselessly on my husband’s desk.

But no one had been standing on that side of the kitchen counter. The flame had not ignited anything near the switch. No fire filled the attic, where we have spaghetti strands of wiring. We were safe, our house was safe, and we could endure a few days of inconvenience in light of that.

The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not burned, and no smell of fire had come upon them. And Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants, who trusted in Him.” – Daniel 3:27b-28a

I do not know why I’m facing the challenges I’m facing or how God will resolve them. I do not yet know whether my roof will endure another apocalyptic storm or when everything will be fixed. But I do know my God has delivered me and will deliver me again, until that day when he wipes every tear from my eye (Revelation 21:4) and I receive my reward for persevering until the end. And by His grace, I will persevere to the end.