Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement last November, the excitement over their wedding had been building. Everything from who would and would not be invited to where they would honeymoon, who would take the pictures or make the cake, and, of course, what the dress would look like?

Much had also been said about Meghan’s very “non-royal” status: divorced, biracial, and American.

As the day grew closer some issues were put to rest, a few questions were answered, but many remained a mystery, leaving bloggers to speculate about who was in and who was out, and news outlets to run background stories or conduct interviews with royal biographers, close friends, and young girls dreaming of being a princess themselves. All of these filled the informational void but did little to provide answers.

Finally, last Saturday, when the much anticipated wedding took place, all questions were answered––and few were disappointed. Thousands invaded Windsor just to get a three or four second glimpse of the couple, while worldwide, millions, if not billions, watched the ceremony on television. Many, like me, even set the early morning alarm in order to watch it live.

It wasn’t until Sunday, the day after the wedding, when the hype had subsided a bit, that I realized something. And that is that many of us are also anticipating another royal wedding. Our own.

The church (his body of believers) is referred to as Christ’s bride (Rev. 19:7) and though some might question our right to be a member of this royal family, once we have surrendered our life to Christ, we have been made righteous (Rom. 3:22 ) and are now heirs of the kingdom (Rom. 8:16-17) ) To top it off, our wedding gown has already been chosen (Rev. 19:8), and there will be a great wedding feast awaiting us (Rev. 19:9).

Finally, while it is not hard to maintain excitement when the span between engagement and wedding ceremony is six months and the media is constantly providing updates, it is more difficult when over two thousands years has passed and the ultimate royal wedding has still not happened. We are reminded though (through the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13)) that we must be diligent, wait expectantly, and be ready for Christ, the bridegroom, to come and gather His Bride to Him. For no one knows “the day or the hour” of His return. But it will definitely be worth it.

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:19) (emphasis added)

The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. (Psalm 121:7-8) (emphasis added)

I know a problem when I see one. Those verses appear to promise that nothing will touch a righteous person, but we know that is just not true. Righteous people get sick, are in accidents, are slandered, hurt, or killed. Ten of the original twelve disciples were martyred. So does God promise to protect us or not?

Maslow’s second need in his hierarchy, right after our physiological needs is the need for safety. I am not a theologian, and I don’t want to mess this up, but I am realizing that while God can choose to keep us from illness, accident, hurt, and death––and often does without our even knowing it––He will not––cannot––eliminate it completely without eliminating the consequences of original sin or eliminating free will. Illness and evil are now realities.

However, as I was studying God’s assurance of protection, I began to realize two things. First, that it is God, and only God, who is able to deliver us from all troubles; and second, that most of the verses indicate that God wasn’t promising to keep us from all suffering, He was 1) promising to be with us through all suffering, and/or promising to protect us from Satan’s attacks: temptation, discouragement, despair, guilt, shame, depression, anger, sadness––as in the following verses.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Ps. 46:1-3)

“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.  I Corinthians 10:13

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thes. 3:3)

"He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.” (Psalm 121:3)

Yes, God is faithful to His promise of protection. As Psalm 34:19 says the LORD does deliver the righteous from all their troubles, and He will. If not in this lifetime, then through His promise of eternal life, where “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)

I know many of you have seen this, but I couldn't have said it any better. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. You deserve to be honored today and every day.

I know the answer should be Jesus, but if I could be just a little bit more like David, I would be happy. Why? Well, because David was . . .

Comfortable: David was comfortable enough with God to come to God with his needs, to question God when things weren’t happening like he expected or wanted, and to express his true feelings.
    “Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend my cry; Give ear to my prayer …” (Ps. 17:1)
    “Why do you stand so far off, O LORD ? Why do You hide in times of trouble?” (Ps. 10:1)
    “I will love You, O LORD, my strength …” (Ps. 18:1)

Contrite: David was a sinner, but he was truly repentant of his sins.
    “For I acknowledge my transgressions/, And my sin is always before me./ Against You, You only, I have sinned …” (Ps. 51:3-4)

Confident: Despite his questions about God’s presence, David was confident that God was in control and would take care of him. How do I know this? It isn’t because at the end of his psalms he praises God, or because of the multiple times he says he trusts God. No, it is because he can sleep.
    “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; For you alone O LORD make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)
    “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.” (Psalm 3:5)

We may say we trust God. We may praise Him and call Him Almighty. But the proof is in the pudding. If we can go to bed at night and sleep peacefully, then we truly do trust Him to take care of us.

Yes, I would love to be more like David, to be more comfortable with God, to be truly contrite and repentant of my sins, and to be confident He will take care of me.

Actually, on further reflection for that to happen, I need to reverse the order. If I am truly confident in God’s trustworthiness, and truly contrite and repentant of my sins, then I will feel very comfortable coming to the Almighty God and honestly placing my fears and feelings, my questions and concerns before Him.