Question: How does God protect His people?

The question has been asked, in light of the destruction in Haiti, and lots of other calamities, How does God protect His people? This is a difficult question to answer, but there is an answer in God's Word. Let's start in the beginning.

Each of us must decide on these things for ourselves. Here is my thought process:

First, is there a God? My conclusion, and I'm sure yours, is that there has to be. The evidence is too obvious. And next, is Jesus really the Son of God? Yes, He really is; the evidence is simply too great. And is the Bible the actual Word of God? Again, yes, it has to be. The Bible proves itself over and over. So if all these are true, then I have no choice but to follow; follow whatever and where ever the Lord sends. But where does that leave us as His people?

Here are a few basic Bible facts:

One thing that is perfectly clear to me is that we aren't guaranteed comfort and protection and ease and success in this life. Job didn't have that. Abraham didn't have that. God told him to leave home and comforts and spend the rest of his life in tents in a foreign land. Paul didn't have that. He left a comfortable and successful career as a leading Jew to suffer hardship as a Christian.

Hebrews 11 tells us that there were many great heroes of faith in the Old Testament, but many suffered greatly. Then the end of the chapter says that God has "provided something better for us.." So what is that?

The answer is spiritual. Spiritual. God has made great provision for us; but He hasn't promised it to us in this life. But it is promised. He had His Son die for us, suffer for us. But now we must endure, take up our cross, suffer persecution, or heartbreak, or whatever comes; but endure we must. Now that takes faith. Hebrews 11 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The doubter might say, "But there is no substance to that at all; if one cannot see it, or know it, how can we be sure?" But God says, have "faith." And we must. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise..." He keeps His promises. There is a vast spiritual world that exists. We cannot see it, but it is there. And we need to be thinking "spiritual."

The Bible does give us over and over the basic principle that if we follow God, things will be better for us. But it may occur on God's time and not ours. Romans 8:28 says, "...all things work together for good to those who love God.." It may come later instead of sooner, so we must wait in patience and faith. And remember: Spiritual. We must think in spiritual terms. One day soon we will all be spiritual beings, no longer on this difficult earth. And trust that God will protect and deliver ultimately.....in His time. Keep the faith!