Our family is experiencing a time of trials right now. It seems we are being battered on every side. And yet, we know God is bigger than anything Satan can throw our way.

I can’t say I’ve often talked about the devil; but he exists, and his goal in life is to fracture our relationship with God. One of the ways he attempts this is to overwhelm us with difficulties that leave us to wonder: If God loves us so much, why isn’t He helping?

Perhaps that’s what the disciples of Jesus were feeling as they watched their beloved teacher and friend arrested, tortured, and crucified. The death of Jesus must have been a very frightening and disappointing time for His followers. They had placed their faith in Jesus, and now He was gone.

But God is never really gone. He continues to be our shelter. The followers of Jesus would discover this time and again throughout their lives as they preached the Gospel. And we have a chance to experience this each time we give our burdens to God.

Psalm 91:14-16 (NIV) says:

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Rest in the shelter of the Lord. Do not give Satan the power to overwhelm you.