Wide eyes, broad grins, and laughter from our two young kids filled the living room when the tents were completely set up. This was their first introduction to camping. Progressively, we set the tents up in our backyard and finally the campgrounds. Having friends join us bolstered our family’s love for this outdoor activity and we camped summer after summer for years.
But when my daughter got involved for two years performing for a local community theater, runs to and from practices and shows replaced our yearly camping trips. On the third year, the nostalgia we felt for our camping days drove us to set up tents at a campground covered with a dusting of snow in the middle of a cold October day. While getting our dinner ready, we noticed two ladies at a distance setting up then taking down their tent. We learned they spotted a mama bear and her cub a few hundred feet away.
After expressing our concerns and getting the camp manager’s tips and reassurance, we stayed and braved it through the night.
This experience made me realize how for years we put our trust and felt secure under the shelter of such flimsy dwellings with no thought of the possible dangers and trouble lurking around us.
Dangers and troubles were a part of King David’s life. But he expressed where his confidence lay as he wrote in Psalm 27:1,
“The LORD is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (ESV)
Recalling how God kept him safe on previous occasions, he continued sharing why he was confident and thankful.
“For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.” Psalm 27:5-6 ESV
In this world troubles and danger abound but like King David, we can have complete confidence as we shelter inside and under God’s tent. He covers and conceals us far beyond the camping tents our family put our trust in. He is faithful and we can have peace knowing we are secure in Him.
This is what I am thankful for today. What about you?