"I'm Covering This Place"

One morning recently I was sitting in my car in the front of the school in a small, rural community called Caraballo in the Dominican Republic, and as I was waiting for the gate to be unlocked, I looked out the window at a beautiful, light, sprinkling rain that fell as it continued to be sunny. And through this sunny rain that so gracefully fell over the school, i heard the Lord whisper “I am covering this place.”

Today, I want to share with you about this idea that the lord placed in my heart a couple weeks ago and continues to bring up. This statement of “I’m covering this place.” A clear and definite statement of the Lord’s presence.

One of the first times that God’s presence appeared in a tangible way to the Israelites was in Exodus 19 at Mount Sinai. During this time, the people had just left Egypt and were planning to camp at Mount Sinai when the Lord tells Moses that if they keep His covenant, they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. And it says in Exodus 19:16-18, “On the morning of the third day; the thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense could came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mt Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.”

God is powerful! So a grand introduction like this makes so much sense, right? But besides large entrances like this, God can also show His presence in the day-to-day. I have been reflecting a lot on this idea of the Lord’s still, small voice and what that can look like or sound like to different people. To Elijah it happened like this in 1 Kings 19 - Elijah has just fled from the wrath of Jezebel, spent some time in the wilderness, and then traveled 40 days and 40 nights to Mount Sinai. And in despair, the Lord speak to Elijah saying “Go out and stand before me on the mountain” And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn close, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”

That’s the thing, a gentle whisper. A still, small voice that is powerful and mighty. A whisper that changes your way of thinking, or that offers correction, or that gives encouragement. I think of a father who corrects or encourages or converses with his child, whom he loves, by whispering into their ear or speaking very softly at the level for them to hear them. It is done completely out of love. And just think about how amazing it is that our mighty, powerful Lord of Lords and King of Kings chooses to whisper to us with this same kind of love.

Perhaps this idea of covering this place could mean this physical place, like the school campus that morning when the Lord whispered this to me. But maybe it could also translate into “I am covering this mental place of yours.” “I am covering this work you are doing.” “I am covering this friendship or relationship you have.” “I am covering this conversation or interaction.” “I am covering this ministry or this country” or even “I am covering your life.”

The Lord cares about protecting you just as a father cares about protecting his child. Though the Lord calls us to do certain things, I have been learning that He doesn’t just care about using your life, but He also cares even just for you. He wants to know how you are feeling, the struggles you are facing, and the things you are celebrating.

Psalm 5:11 says “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult you.” Are you listening for the Lord’s still, small voice? What is he speaking to you? And what areas of your life are you allowing the Lord to cover, to protect, and to keep in His control?