unDefended

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease.

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Psalm 91:1-4

The traveling salesman opened a battered imitation leather briefcase, displaying his wares. Pages filigreed with Quranic verses in flowing Arabic script, others with Bible verses in English. Bits of bone and leather, the striking red and black seeds of the mitipitipi plant, small shells, and coins with holes bored in the centers. He was a witch doctor, and he sold protection to the fearful.

I had no use for his charms and amulets. I was a follower of Jesus… I read Psalm 91 over my loved ones every night, confident in their protection. I preached protection to the tribe even as they tugged at the charms around their necks, uncomfortable with the thought that the amulet they had exchanged for three family goats might not have the same power as this God called Jesus.

Many years later, when my son almost died in a house fire, I questioned the protection I declared. Where was God when my son was trapped, fighting for his life?

Where was Jesus, the Name above all names?

And here we have reached the heart of the matter, the question everyone must answer if she desires to settle the question of protection. If she wants to know, Am I unDefended? 

Go for a moment to your place of defenselessness. The vulnerable place where you lay trapped, fighting for your life or the life of someone you love. The place where you felt (or now feel) unDefended.

Where is Jesus?

Can you see Him, on the cross, as the sky turns dark at midday, the earth shakes, and men and women tremble at His blood-soaked feet, some in worship and others in fear? Enemies who moments before mocked His death on a criminal’s wooden beams? Can you hear Him, crying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?

Can you smell the crisp morning air as the Messiah emerges from a stone-sealed tomb at the break of day, His grave clothes piled tidy behind Him in a grave He no longer has use for because He is not dead?

Can you taste the salty tears on your face as He ascends to heaven in the presence of His disciples, leaving you in the emotional grip of these goodbye words, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18)?

Can you hear the thunderous approach of the rider on the white horse, the one who is called Faithful and True? With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven follow him and on his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords (from Revelation 19:11-14, 16).

This God, this Savior is the one who defends you on your darkest night. This Messiah is the one who gave His life to secure your protection. This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and makes your salvation sure. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. No other name makes our position truly secure.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish–ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand (John 10:28, HCSB).

You, beloved, are Defended. And no fire, no storm, no human scheme, can wrench you out of the hand of the One who holds you fast. #ungallery #Truth4Women Share on XLord, I want the security You offer through Jesus. Fill my heart with faith as I trust You with the places in my life where I’ve felt undefended. Show me Your presence with me. Amen.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that humanity often finds lies easier to believe than truth.

—Audrey Frank

Some of those lies seem to be written on hearts in permanent ink, graffitied in different languages across cultures and continents, yet all meaning the same. unWorthy. unLoveable. unSeen. unHeard. unKnown. unClean. unDefended. 

At The Truth Collective, we are seeking to uncover the lies and help people believe what is True. We are proud to unveil our latest project, the unGallery, premiering in Charlotte, NC this weekend (October 10-11, 2020). Global artists have contributed exquisite expressions of the lies we often believe, and the Truth that sets us free. I hope you will join us by reserving your space here. Be sure to use the code AudreyFrank for a 30% discount.

Thanks for sitting in as we have uncovered lies and believed truth together the past few weeks. Hope to see you at the unGallery!

@audreycfrank