How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7
We all thrive on loyalty. Loyalty is one foundation of a healthy relationship. When Lari and I got married nearly 30 years ago, it was with the expectation that we would both provide and need loyalty in our marriage for it to survive the dark clouds of trouble that sometimes slowly find their way into the messiness of relationships. It is challenging to weather many storms without this loyal kind of love. It hasn’t always been easy, but there is no one I’d rather spend my days with on this earth than her. Through the mire of difficult decisions and trials, her loyal love towards me has made the journey worth the cost.
There is a confident assurance I always have with her that I can share my feelings, my hurts, and all my physical ailments without fear of judgment. She is simply loyal.
God is our perfect example of this kind of love. His love is loyal, and we need to hear that often to remind us that He cares deeply for us.
God’s Loyal Love is Precious
The Psalmist describes God’s love as precious. Precious means that it is of high value and rare. Have you ever owned a rare and highly valued item? Maybe a piece of jewelry or a unique watch? What do you do with those items? You look at them as being precious. You may even place them in special containers called a locked safe to preserve and take care of them. You might even save that watch for special occasions like a wedding or yearly formal event you attend. Why? Because you want to take special care of it. It is precious; it has high value and is rare.
That’s how it is with God’s love towards us. It is rare, precious, and it is loyal to the end. He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We need this great confidence amid so much uncertainty.
God’s Loyal Love is a Refuge
Do you ever fear the unknown things? Perhaps an illness or uncertainty has you frozen with fear. We don’t have to fear the unknown because we have God’s loyal love as a refuge in our lives. Refuge means that it is a safe place, shelter, or location. So you’re asking how does that practically work out in my life? It is a concept that I call resting in God’s provision for us. God has chosen, in His unfailing and perfect loyal love, to provide a place of safety and cover for us. As a result, He is the hurricane shelter for all of life’s potential disappointments and fears.
There is no need to fear. We rest and find safety in the promise of God’s loyal love.
God’s Loyal Love has Boundaries
God describes this love as a “refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Shadows have boundaries, and this is also something to consider when seeking this kind of love. Taking refuge in God’s loyal love means that we also understand the boundaries of His love. It is very much like being in a hurricane shelter. We go to those places because they have sturdy roofs and are on higher ground. It is a place that provides safety from the rising water, battering waves, and damaging winds. But the moment we step outside of that shelter and try and make it on our own, we take our lives into our own hands.
I don’t ever want to be outside of the boundaries of God’s loyal love for me. Again, I have to continue to remind myself to slow down and rest in His love.
How will you rest in God’s love for you today? What things will remind you of His loyal love for you? What things will remind you of your loyal love for Him?