The day I have been thinking about for months, even years, has finally come. It’s time to drop off my first born at kindergarten. He walks in to his new class a little shy, but at the same time brave. He peeks around the cute barnyard themed room full of exciting new things and then finds his name and sits down. He smiles up at his Daddy and I from his tiny chair with bright eyes, excited and so ready. His teacher reads a short story and now it’s time for us to go. As we say goodbye, my heart beats a little faster. When I drive away, the tears come. Since he was born, I have spent every moment of every day doing my best to “always protect” that little guy. I even convince myself I AM the great protector at times. And then - all at once - I’m in my car alone and he’s out there in the world, growing up as my tears stream.

“Always protects, always trusts”…
Breathe in, breathe out.

We struggle to “always protect” what’s precious to us. We protect our homes with locks and alarms, keeping the world outside our gates. We protect our money, our time, our image. For me, it’s my three children. I sleep lightly, walk through parking lots like I’m in a war zone, and ensure everyone’s food is sufficiently cut up. It’s a beautiful reflection of the Heavenly Father’s protection over his children, but I tend to carry it on my own shoulders. I try to be all knowing and all present and I somehow I trick myself into thinking it’s my job to protect - that I am the one doing it. But when my son took those first big steps away from my protection and into the world, I had to remind myself: God has my children in his hands.

“Always protects, always trusts”…

1 Corinthians 13 doesn’t yell to us to “always protect!” The verse says, “LOVE always protects”. God is love and the great protector. His protection is infinitely greater than my limited ability. He goes before and behind (Deuteronomy 31:8). He is a strong tower where we run and are safe (proverbs 18:10). He is always with us (Isaiah 41:10), even in the shadow of the valley (Psalm 23:4), and He sustains life (Job 33:4). Thank God it’s on HIS shoulders and not mine. I can try to keep 3 kids protected under my wing for a little while, but now begins the season of letting them go. It reminds me of how God used my friend Stacey to teach me that HE is the one that always protects.

During my junior year of high school I was in a bible study discipleship group with a few girls. One of the seniors in the group was a girl sang on the worship team with and really looked up to; her name was Stacey. That year we listened as Stacey shared about what she would do after graduation. She felt the Lord leading her to a Bible school in Europe, which was much more intimidating than going to college in her home state. We prayed with her, cried with her, and cheered for her when she decided to go for it. She attended Capernwray and traveled all over Europe that year. She took the risk - the more “dangerous” path - and God protected her through it all!

When she returned that summer, we made plans to get together so that she could tell me all about her adventures. We never got to fulfill those plans. On July 3, 2007 not long after she returned home, my dad told me that she had been in a car accident. She didn’t make it. My heart sank like a stone; my world was rocked. I will never forget that day.

As I began to process this tremendous loss, the Lord captured my heart and set it on fire for Him as I left for college that August. As the months went by, God planted this truth deep in my soul:

I can trust Him because He will always protect me. He has our days numbered; His plan for our life is already written (Psalm 139:16). He “always protects” - until he calls us home. Stacey took the risk of going overseas at a young age and God protected her every step of the way. Then He called her home on her way back from the gym, on one of the “safest” days she’d had in months.

See, it’s not the "safety" of staying at home or the properly installed car seat or the filter on the 23rd photo I took where everyone is actually cute that protects me. That kind of safety is an illusion. My mom always said that to me when I worried: “safety is an illusion.”

But The father always protects. His protection goes beyond the tangible and the present. My friends, it is salvation that is his ultimate protection for all who believe! This means we can always trust, regardless of circumstances or outcomes. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a fiery furnace or shopping at Wal-Mart, He always protects so we can always trust. And we can ultimately trust his plan for our life, that He calls home in His Perfect time. In the moments where I find myself suffocating from the heaviest of worry, the Lord reminds me of Stacey. Her faith and trust in God will forever remind my soul to do the same.
My sweet boy won’t always have me to hold his hand in a busy parking lot or make sure he’s drinking enough water on a hot day. But I do know one thing - my son always has the Lord. I can always trust the Lord. I will trust Him each moment, and I’ll strive to teach my kids to do the same.

It feels like a deep breath - always protects inhale, always trusts exhale.
Breathe deep, friends, and rest in the great protector.

Hannah Wulff-Woesten