Our Sun and Shield

Growing Daily

Our church owns a small plot of farmland where we grow vegetables and flowers to sell at our farmstand. All the proceeds go to missions, and it's a wonderful place for fellowship and community as we work together throughout the growing season.

Last week was unusually busy as volunteers hurried to stretch mesh shade cloths over the long rows of tomato plants. It’s kind of ironic. The forecasted heat wave could be deadly to the immature plants, but they still need sun to grow. So the shade cloth doesn’t eliminate the sun. Instead, it stands between the plants and the full force of the heat.

Thinking about the tomato shade gave me new insight into the words of Psalm 84:11: “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.”

We often pray that God will remove the heat from our lives, whether it’s grief, an unwanted diagnosis, or financial pressures. Sometimes He does, but more often He allows the trial to grow us—while He covers us with His protection. "The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade." (Psalm 121:5)

So today, when we feel the heat, let’s remember that we rest in His shadow. He will shield us from what might otherwise overwhelm us. His grace will be sufficient as He works to produce in us lasting fruit. (2 Corinthians 12:9; James 1:2-4)

“...You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.” (Isaiah 25:4)

- Catherine Reid