There are preemptive strikes all around us, and we’ll never know what might have happened without His intervention. We are safe and sound in God’s presence.

It was a bright sunny September day—nothing unusual at the airport. Businessmen rushed to catch their plane, lovers kissed just a little longer and children were bored with the wait.  On three planes though the police had arrested suspicious looking men before they took their seats. They were questioned, sent to jail and held over for trial. Their plans were revealed. Their mission aborted. This was their 9/11. This was a preemptive strike.

We would never have known.

Today we know this never happened.

Today we wish for that preemptive strike.

Today we live with the aftermath of death, destruction and doubt.

Preemptive strikes. Have you ever thought about it? I have. The purpose of our intelligence gathering, our covert operations and yes, our spying is to hit them before they hit us. My son is an intelligence officer. He knows the value of knowing.

We, as a nation and people, need to know the mind of our enemy and their evil plans.

How many Pearl Harbors have we already avoided? The nature of preemptive strikes is defensive, proactive and protective. The enemy’s plan thwarted, their killing fields never plowed and we move peacefully unaware of what might have been.

Our rescuers unknown.

Our life spared.

Mission accomplished.

I thought about this today when I opened the Word to Psalm 97:10: Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Spiritual preemptive strikes are God’s business.

His intelligence is secure.

He knows the plans of the evil one and guards our lives. Every. Single. Day.

Have you ever delayed your departure only to find out you missed a major accident? Who knows how many drunken drivers sobered up quickly? Who knows?

Have you ever felt uneasy about a decision or decided at the last minute to do something else? Have you ever made it through a storm and wondered at the miracle? Have you ever felt you’re on borrowed time?

Not everyone is rescued, saved and lives to tell about it. Not everyone is covered under some Christian dome away from all harm. Whatever happens in our life though He allows. If He permits it then He gives us what we need to bear up under it. He prepares our hearts and minds. The pain is real, but His comfort is realer still.

We never go through anything He doesn’t permit.

We never face anything He doesn’t know about.

We’re never alone.

Some people read Job with fearful eyes. They haven’t captured the big picture and leave it at Job’s words, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.”  Still others skip over to the last chapter and read about Job’s material gain. “Awe! So that’s what its all about.”

I read Job with assurance and awe. Nothing happened to Job that God didn’t allow – nothing happened to Job that God didn’t know about.

He saw the loss.

He heard the friend’s lies.

He felt the pain.

He made Himself known.

This is the beauty of Job.

Job’s reward was not the material gain in the end; it was the invaluable knowledge of God Himself. The spiritual rewards were priceless.

The evil one is working – he continues to make plans. He is out to kill, steal and destroy. This is true, but God knows and He turns what’s meant for evil into good. “All things work together for good” is fact not fiction.

There are preemptive strikes all around us. We’ll never know what might have happened without His intervention. We are safe and sound in God’s presence. He guards our lives and delivers us even if we don’t know it. That information is good enough for me.

I trust Him in the known.

I trust Him in the unknown.

I trust Him.

Have you ever experienced a preemptive strike and lived to tell about it.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil...Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." Psalm 23: 4a,6a