God’s covering may not prevent threatening situations, but his presence keeps them from defeating us.

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.”

—Psalm 31:19–20

Threatening situations

In Psalm 31 King David describes another great benefit of practicing God’s presence.

His situation is, he is under attack. He speaks of the plots of men and the strife of tongues. Earlier in the psalm he speaks of his enemies and persecutors and that people are trying to catch him with hidden nets.

He writes, “I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side!—as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life” (Psalm 31:13).

The response

David’s response is to take refuge in God, and what he experiences there he calls “the cover of your presence.”

God’s presence covers, protects, and shields us.

God’s covering did not prevent the attacks from happening to David, but it protected him from being defeated by them.

The relevance

We can experience the cover of God’s presence not only in situations where others are attacking us, but in any situation where we feel threatened by something that can harm us.

The threat could be financial. It could be a threat to our physical health or our family’s welfare. In any situation that causes us to fear what something or someone will do to us, we can take refuge in God and experience the cover of his presence.

How to take refuge

Of course, God is not a literal building in which we can hide, so how do we take refuge in him?

Through prayer and faith in his Word. We follow David’s example in Psalm 31 and cry out to God for his protection. We describe to him what is happening to us. And we let him know how we feel.

Then we put our trust in who God is and what his Word says. In the last six verses of the psalm David declares his confidence in what God will do to protect him. He writes, “The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride” (v. 23).

Taking refuge in God means bring him to the forefront of our minds and putting threats in their place. We meditate on his greatness, faithfulness, and promises. These thoughts and truths are God’s presence to our minds.

Divine cover

Moreover, as we think in this way, God’s Holy Spirit manifests the peace of God in our hearts in a way that transcends understanding. In other words, the cover of God’s presence is more than thinking the right thoughts; it is the very supernatural presence of God.

As the apostle Paul writes: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

Furthermore, we experience God’s actual defense, as he works in the situation in the way he chooses to protect us from harm. This too is the cover of God’s presence.

As Paul wrote from a Roman prison: “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:17–18)

So, you’re covered.