Have you ever tried to escape your own shadow? It’s impossible, right? The Psalmist says that closeness to God is like living in His shadow—steady, present, unshakeable. Psalm 91 promises that when you stay close in the secret place, you get peace, protection, and next-level strength, even before life gets messy.
God is steady, present, unshakeable.
You might remember names mentioned in the Bible, like Enoch and Noah, both men who made a habit of walking in close fellowship with God. Amazing—with reverent fear, Enoch walked with God not for 365 days but for 365 years. Wow! He never left God’s side; what a testimony. Like Enoch, Noah also walked closely with God and stood out in his generation. The lesson? Through the power of Jesus, we can walk blameless (unconsumed) in a corrupt culture. Their closeness to God made them recipients of His presence.
Closeness to God makes us recipients of His presence and so much more.
Scripture Anchor
Psalms 91:2 encourages us to declare this about the LORD: “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”
Some things about God? Words can’t describe them—you’ve got to experience it for yourself.
What I’ve Learned? A Lifetime Commitment is Required to Dwell.
Staying close to God isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a lifetime commitment. The more you walk with Jesus—the Light—the more you feel His presence covering your life. Reflect on this: just as it is in science, it is also in the spiritual realm. Let’s break it down – facts on file:
1. Shadows form whenever light meets an object.
When we encounter Jesus—the Light of the world—His presence doesn’t just touch us; it surrounds us.
Just as a shadow forms when light hits a solid object, His nearness creates a covering over our lives.
Psalm 91 describes it as “the shadow of the Almighty”—a place where His presence blankets us with protection.
2. Shadows often go unnoticed unless something draws our attention to them.
That’s Jesus—steady, present, never leaving your side.
He’s been there all along—but life’s moments, crises, or blessings suddenly make us more aware of Him.
We don’t always notice the shadow until something shifts, but the shadow was never gone.
3. We subconsciously use shadows to judge what we see in our environment.
That’s perception and perspective.
Shadows help us see what’s real, and spiritually, the “shadow of the Almighty” shapes how we see everything: danger, opportunity, timing, direction, even your identity. When we live under His shadow, our perception is corrected, and our perspective is changed—fear shrinks, purpose GROWS.
When we live under His shadow, our perception is corrected, and our perspective is changed.
4. The size and shape of a shadow change based on the position of the light and what is blocking it.
Your attitude toward God influences how you see Him.
If something blocks my view—fear, sin, distraction, disappointment—I might feel like God is distant, even though He hasn’t moved. And when God moves, I follow.
Just like the Israelites followed the cloud, I adjust my posture, my focus, my devotion.
The way the light hits changes the shadow’s appearance—and the attitude of my heart shapes how I experience God’s presence.
5. In the late afternoon, shadows grow longer.
And in our darkest hours—when we can’t trace God, when the sun seems low, when life feels heavy—His shadow doesn’t shrink.
It stretches.
It covers more.
It reaches further even when life feels darkest.
Jesus is the Rock that throws shade (the good kind!) in dry seasons—the shelter that expands when you need Him most.
When you stay close to Jesus, you can be confident that you are covered and safe resting in the shadow of God’s hand.
In Jesus, you are covered and safe!
The Shadow as Proximity – Psalm 91:1
Do you believe God is your safe place? Friend, He is—right now, today. Chase Him. Stay close. Build that relationship on purpose. And when you don’t know what to do next, He’ll reveal what was hidden all along.
A little secret: some theologians believe that Moses, not David, wrote Psalms 91. Moses, the man who met with God face-to-face and boldly declared in Psalms 90, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place,” was truly remarkable. Moses, who had to trust God even when he couldn’t sense His presence, took a deliberate stance. He was committed to going WITH GOD and understood His value intimately.
Unshakeable Under His Shadow
Benefits of Dwelling Close – Psalm 91:9–11
- When you make God your home, the place where you live. His presence becomes a shield and fortress, providing divine protection that we see and don’t see.
- Whatever you’re afraid of, God’s got you, giving freedom from fear and access to real peace.
- You’ve got God’s help. Angels are on assignment for you in this season. I like that!
- Life’s challenges are unavoidable; despite them, God will support, guide, and rescue us.
- Our very life itself is secured now and on into eternity. Praise God!
Just picture it: your life—our lives—held secure in God’s almighty hand. That’s the confidence we get when we dwell close.
Living in the Secret Place
WOW! I really felt this scripture, did you? Choosing to be close to God and to dwell in the secret place is not just spiritual talk—it’s a power move. Stay under His shadow, and you’ll find safety before, after, and during storms.
Don’t wait for a crisis to get close—lean in now.
Your challenge: Choose to dwell daily under His shadow. Don’t wait—start today.
Pray This Prayer Over Your Life:
- Pray Psalms 91 over your life and ask God to deepen your desire to be in His presence.
- Auntie Barbarba is FLOWingUP, put this word on repeat!
Next: Here’s a recap and a devotional that explores practical pathways to proximity.
FLOWUPHQ 