Caller: Is it wrong to expect, um, ok let’s just say for instance – and I’m going to use this just off the top of my head – I have no idea if this is going to work. But let’s say there’s a tornado: Is it wrong to expect God’s protection?
Pastor Doug: Well you wouldn’t want to go out and chase a tornado. I think we ought to do what we can to use common sense to avoid calamity, and then ask God to protect us, and expect that we can have peace.
Caller: Okay that’s what I’m saying. So we can more or less expect it, not just pray for it and hope for the best? We can expect it – you know what I’m trying to say?
Pastor Doug: Yeah I think I do. I don’t want to leave the impression that Christians are immune to calamity.
Caller: Oh no, no, by no means.
Pastor Doug: But I think that God does protect people who trust in Him. There are a number of promises in the Bible. Read Psalm 91 Mary…
Caller: Psalm 91. Ok.
Pastor Doug: …and you’ll find a lot of comfort and encouragement in that passage regarding calamity and God’s protection in those environments.
Caller: Ok. That’s what I was wanting to know is if we could expect, you know, if it was too much saying that I believe I’m going to be – this is not going to happen to me because I have protection – or was I being too proud.
Pastor Doug: Well let me give you an example. There’s the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego who almost went to the fiery furnace and they said, ‘If God wants to, He can deliver us. But even if He doesn’t deliver us, we’re going to serve Him.’
Well God did deliver them, and more times than not, God does watch over His own but you and I both know that good Christians do also experience calamity.
Caller: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Like Job for instance.
Caller: Yes.
Pastor Doug: A tornado took his family out.
Caller: Yes – and he would have been out of it much earlier had he not listened to his friends.
Pastor Doug: That’s right. And John the Baptist died in prison. So Christians do suffer, but more times than not, God protects us as we claim His promises ok?
Caller: Thank you very, very much!
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