Couples who want to find divine protection in God must first learn to trust in God and serve Him wholeheartedly. It’s a prerequisite of which there is no opting out. There are no short cuts, or as the church used to call it, “half-stepping.” As couples under covenant, we must be ALL IN if we want God’s protective custody plan.
Protective custody is for the protection and security of those under the attentive eye of someone in power. There is no higher power than our Father in heaven, so let all of God’s married couples rest in knowing that you are under His divine protective custody. By definition, “protective custody” is, “the act of law enforcement officials in placing a person in a government facility or foster home to protect him/her from a dangerous person or situation.”
But what about GOD’S protective custody plan? Let’s have a look-see…
Psalm 91 (New Living Translation) states: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Those are just the first two verses of that Scripture text. Read the entire chapter for more enlightenment.
In the law of the land, protective custody may only last until the end of a trial that is conducted in a court of law. After that, the person who was being protected may have to escape to another area of the world to avoid harm—maybe even death. Sometimes the protective custody will last a bit longer. In any case, that protection is not guaranteed. But as long as we remain in God, His protective custody plan is everlasting. There is no end date … and we ain’t got to run from nobody!
“It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8 – Amplified Bible).
Words of assurance are also given to us by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:20 (AMP) when He says, in no uncertain terms, “…lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstances, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
In these distressed times in which we live, we need a promise from the Lord. We need words that arrest and bolster our faith; something that assures us that God is with us. We need divine insight to maneuver and maintain in these troubled times. We must hear Him speak so loudly that it drowns out the noise of the world around us, and we need to trust God so completely and without reservation, so that even when we hear negative statistics and news regarding marriage failures, we know that our Father’s protective custody plan is rock solid and renders us unbreakable.
Here is some dismal news shared by the “USA Today” website: “Count this as another in a long list of negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic: It has the potential to send America’s divorce rate—already embarrassingly at nearly 50%—even higher once divorce courts are fully open again. The now-familiar stresses of quarantine—money worries, boredom, lack of escape from each other, conflicts over the kids, conflicts over chores, lack of exercise—are forcing many couples to reconsider how they really feel about their partners, say lawyers and marriage counselors.”
DailyMail.com reported, “Divorce rates in America soar by 34% during the COVID-19 pandemic with marriages crumbling three weeks into quarantine and newlywed separations doubling to 20%.”
We are further told that a combination of pandemic stress, including unemployment and quarantine, may have contributed to the surge. And while most would probably assume that newlyweds would be the least affected, we’re told that those married under five years are seeking divorces at an alarming rate, and those married under five months are hit the hardest … FIVE MONTHS!
While some of the statistics regarding the divorce rate may be new, the process of divorce itself certainly is not. Let’s face reality. Marriage has been under attack and prioritized on satan’s diabolical hit list since its inception with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Why? We’ve mentioned it in this column previously, but it most definitely bears repeating. Marriage was created and established to be an earthly reflection of God (the Husband) and His bride, the church.
The devil absolutely hates—with a passion—anything associated with reflecting God, worshipping God, or honoring God. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that those of us, who make the choice to enter the marriage covenant, realize that satan sees targets on our backs! Before we walk down that aisle, we need to already be under God’s protective custody. And when we’ve said our “I dos” and begin our life together, we had better STAY under God’s protective custody!
1 Peter 5:8 (New King James Version) warns us that satan is constantly prowling. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” This means we must always be on guard. All the devil needs is a moment—a small window of opportunity. We can’t give him that. That’s why we started this by saying a couple must be ALL IN!
When we’re all in, God’s protective custody shields us from every outside element—whether spiritual or manmade. That includes COVID-19 and all the negatives that come with it. Does that mean that we won’t be adversely affected? No! But it does mean that it won’t break our bond.
These days, so much focus is being placed on the coronavirus and its poison, and not enough on Christ and His promises. This virus has changed the lives of our communities, states and the world. It has changed how we interact with others daily; the norm is no longer the norm. This pandemic is so impactful that it has created a new normal that, for many, has been a challenge to embrace. For some, it has even been a test of their faith in and faithfulness to God.
The confidence of it all is that those who have made Jehovah their God have divine protective custody. Protective custody is provided to someone who is in danger and desires security. With satan on a rampage to annihilate marriages, none are in danger more than us covenant keepers. That’s why it’s so important that COUPLES be in God. Not just the husband. Not just the wife. “If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). The unified couple must be in God TOGETHER.
Let it be well known that all of God’s married couples are under His protective custody. We may not see or feel it. At times, we may even forget that we have the best security and protection accessible in covenant marriage today. But we are here to tell you … be encouraged! If our marriages are rooted in God, the protection of the Lord is sure.
“But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “’The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil’” (2 Timothy 2:19 – NLT).
Drs. Michael & Kendra Holmes are the senior pastors of Deliverance Revival Church in Warner Robins, the founders of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC, the authors of the 31-day devotional, “Cross-Fire: Igniting Passionate, Purposeful, and Powerful Relationships,” and guest hosts of the new television talk show, “The Marriage Circle Connection.” W.A.R. is an acronym for “We Are Royalty,” the official slogan of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC. Visit the website at www.RoyaltyRelationshipCoaching.com.
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