How God Protects Our Children

Every day as I put my one-year-old daughter to bed, my prayer is, “Thank you Lord, for keeping her safe and healthy.” As a parent, safety is something I now have to think about all the time. I am the mama to a very active little girl. She loves to explore and often, unknowingly, puts herself in harm’s way. Part of my job as a mother is think about her safety and guard her little life. However, there are some things I can’t protect her from. Which leads me to wonder about how God protects our children.

Is Anywhere Safe?

There are tragedies that happen in this very unsafe world. I have heard of children who have gotten injured or killed while playing. I have heard of children who have passed suddenly in their crib, or have been taken from their own bed. In a world where awful things happen to our children, one can cry out to God, “Is anywhere safe?”

As I pondered this topic, this was the question that overflowed out of my heart to God. “Lord, is anywhere truly safe? Tragedy can strike while she’s under my care, in the place where she is supposed to be at her safest. How can anywhere possibly be safe?”

I immediately heard a response in my heart. “If she is in my hands, then how can anywhere be unsafe?”

An overwhelming peace came to me when I pondered this phrase. “How can anywhere be unsafe?”

How God Protects Our Children: Lessons from Psalms

David is the author of the follow Psalm: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 NIV (Read all of Psalm 4)

David spent a long period of his life on the run from a king who wanted to kill him. He was hiding out in various places, fearing for his life. And yet, God had a calling on his life. He was promised to be the next king of Israel. The entire time he was on the run, God protected him. This Psalm expresses that even when David is running for his life, God allows him to dwell in safety. David is safe, even when circumstances do not seem to indicate this.

God Protects Differently Than We Do

One of the most difficult things we can do as a parent is recognize that we are not able to completely protect our children. We can and should make our best effort, but some things just aren’t under our control. God is ultimately their protector. Even if the worst happens, we have to trust that God works all things together for good. Even when tragedy strikes, our children are still safe for eternity in God’s hands.

As of writing this post, I have never had to experience the pain of losing a child. I know people who have to live with that pain every day. For me, the phrase, “how can anywhere be unsafe” is a reminder to me that my child is in God’s hands. It might be a more poignant reminder for some. As parents, all we can give is our best, but we can’t protect in the same way that God does. He protects with eternity in mind, rather than our immediate gratification.

Praise God that he sees further than we can – beyond our pain. He knows what is truly best for our children. I pray that no matter what the future holds, I am able to trust him with my precious little one.