Switch on the news on almost any day and you’ll hear of another earthquake, flood, wildfire or act of violence. Innocent people are hurt and families are torn apart, and it’s natural to ask the hard question. If God is our protector, how can we trust God when bad things happen?
Christians have wrestled with this for thousands of years, and the Bible doesn’t shy away from it. Following Jesus has never meant a life free from pain. What it does mean is that we never face that pain alone, and that God’s strength is enough for whatever comes our way.
God is our Great Protector
Right through Scripture, God reveals Himself as the One who watches over His people. One of His names is Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner, a picture of Him standing over us in battle. He knows every need we have, including our need to be kept safe, and He promises that in Christ we are more than conquerors.
That doesn’t mean danger never comes. It means danger never has the final word. As the psalmist puts it, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). The prophet Nahum reminds us that “the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble” (Nahum 1:7), and Paul, who knew more hardship than most, wrote that believers may be “struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9).
Psalm 91 and living close to God
Many believers call Psalm 91 their divine insurance policy, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a song for those who make the Lord their dwelling place, and it promises that “He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11). If you’d like to go deeper, this reflection on living under the shadow of His wings is a lovely place to start.
Walking closely with God changes how we live. Those who stay in tune with Him often sense the Holy Spirit warning them away from danger, and countless Christians can tell stories of being kept safe in ways they simply can’t explain. Yet all of it comes by His grace, not by anything we’ve earned.
Real peace in an anxious world
The world is desperate for peace and safety, but so much of what it offers can vanish overnight. Jobs, savings, health and even whole nations can be shaken in a moment. Paul warned that when people say “Peace and safety!” sudden destruction can follow (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In the same breath, he reminded believers that “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
That’s the difference. Our security isn’t in our circumstances but in Jesus, and nothing can take Him from us.
When the worst has already happened
What about those who have already been hurt or bereaved? Here God shows Himself as our Great Restorer. He gives “beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:3) and promises that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
That promise doesn’t make grief any less real. Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. But it does mean no loss is beyond His reach. All over the world, Christians can point to lives turned around through Jesus after the very worst had happened, with broken people rebuilt and new purpose rising from the rubble. You’ll find some of those stories of hope in my books.
Choosing to trust God when bad things happen
God loves every person on earth. He sends His sunshine and rain on everyone, and all of us face storms of one kind or another. The real question is whether we face them alone or put our trust in Him.
When we give our lives to Jesus, we find a strength that isn’t our own. He fills us with a joy that circumstances can’t steal and a peace that passes all understanding. And the safety He offers doesn’t end with this life. It is eternal.
If you’re walking through a hard season right now, don’t carry it alone. Talk honestly with God and open your Bible at Psalm 91. He is closer than you think.
