“The reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:17b, NIV).

In the previous lesson, on Luke 1:35, I talked about being under God’s wing; resting and trusting in Him, so that we fear no evil and that we see Him and not our circumstances. Let me give you a verse about those circumstances; we’ve talked about this verse before. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2, ESV).

Being hidden in Christ (that’s Colossians 3:3) doesn’t mean there are no bad circumstances. There are floods. There are flames. In Psalm 27 it talks about being confident as an army encamps around you. There are circumstances, but they are just a distraction from the reality. Our goal is to not see the circumstance, but the reality.

The reality is in Christ. The reality is that we are hidden in the shelter of His wings, hidden in his tabernacle (Psalms 91 and 27). If we are in Christ, then Christ is really the one going through the waves and flames; He’s just carrying us through, in Him. He is the way. He is the way through—the safe passage. He, Himself.

Here’s a New Testament verse to help you take hold and believe it. “We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them” (1 John 5:18, NLT). Jesus, Himself, keeps us. He keeps us from sin, so we don’t get scorched. Jesus, Himself, preserves us, keeps us secure, so that the evil one cannot touch us. The army may be approaching. The heat of the flame may be felt. The crash of the waves may be heard. But it will not touch you.

Other translations are that the evil one cannot harm you. Psalm 91:10 says that no harm will overtake us, or no evil will befall us. We are kept by God. Our choice on our end is to remain in Christ. Our choice is to abide—to make Him our dwelling place. Let Him cover you with His feathers, and rejoice in the shadow of His wings.