An Apple Living in the Shadows

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8

I simply love this verse.

Especially lately.

See, I often fight the feeling of living in the shadow of other people. And satan knows it’s one of my weak spots, so he often hits it…he’s wily that way.  So when God recently showed me this verse, I fell in love with it. Um, yeah, that’s right. I’ve read the book of Psalms many times in life and somehow missed this verse. But God knew it was there, and He knew right when I’d need it. Gotta love how the Holy Spirit drops in right when you need Him. That’s because our God is so much bigger than anything satan can throw at us.

And recently he's been lobbing that whole idea of me being in the shadows. I’ve got to believe I’m not the only one who at times feels eclipsed by others.  You know, feeling like someone else is achieving your victories. That God is choosing to use them instead of you, that you’re lost in their light. It creates a rather sour grapes attitude—and it’s not how I want to live. I’m pretty sure coveting was mentioned in the Ten Commandments.

But living in a shadowy place doesn't have to be an issue, as long as we live in the correct shadow—God’s. Look at that verse. David asked God to put him in His shadow. Where another’s shadow can begin to create jealousy, God’s is meant to protect, hide, even mimic Him. (So often God spoke of how He’d use things as a shadow of His plan to come.)

And what I love about that verse above is not only will His shadow cover me, but I’m the apple of His eye. Love it! I’m special to Him in my own way. Unique and loved. It pulls me out of the place I was stuck, and hides me in Him. A much better place to be.

The best part? David was the apple of His eye too. And so are you. See, God doesn’t play favorites (Romans 2:11--God does not show favoritism).  He’s made us all with unique talents bound within us to be released at just the right moment to fulfill the plan and purpose He created us for. Sure, some gifts might look similar to others, but they will not be used in the same manner. Who you reach, what you accomplish, will be uniquely yours. God didn’t arbitrarily create you in the hope that He could use you. No. He created you with something specific in mind. And if you let Him, He’ll use you to do it. But you have to stop looking at everyone else first. Step out of their shadow and into His. I'm taking that leap right now.

Oh, and I'd love to hear what your favorite verse is right now. Share please, I may be missing another apple of the eye moment:)