Protected. We spend a lot of time, energy and money trying to protect ourselves. I know for instance, in our home we have smoke alarms that also detect carbon monoxide, sprinklers in case a fire breaks out, and an alarm system on our home in case there is an intruder. But all these things are reactive. They tell us when danger is happening not before the danger even exist. We strive to protect ourselves, but God offers a deeper kind of protection, one that knows the danger coming and goes beyond our ability to anticipate it. That’s exactly what God originally designed for us. In the garden, God protected Adam and Eve from the effects of sin. But when they ate from the tree of knowledge, they became exposed to sin and evil on a personal, intimate level. Though sin is now part of our world, God remains our protector, offering His presence and guidance in the middle of the brokenness. Though sin is now a reality, the good news is that God remains committed to being our protector, as David reminds us throughout the Psalms. Psalms 121:5-8 shows this. Verse 5 says, “The Lord watches over you, the Lord