Unseen Protection: Recognizing God’s Hand in What We’re Saved From

As women of faith, we often pray for God’s protection over our families, our homes, and our lives. But have you ever stopped to think about the dangers He has shielded you from—those you never even knew existed?

I recently came across a powerful testimony that deeply moved me. A man was recounting a story he heard in church, where a woman shared her experience of being kidnapped. After her abduction, her captors stopped to take more victims. At one point, they noticed another woman, watched her, debated whether to take her, but ultimately decided to leave her alone.

That woman, unaware of the decision made by those men, probably went home that day without ever realizing how close she came to danger. She never had to cry out for deliverance because God had already intervened on her behalf.

The Protection We Never See

This story made me think about how we often celebrate the moments when God rescues us from hardship, but we don’t always recognize the battles He prevents us from fighting. There are unseen dangers that He shields us from—accidents that never happen, harmful relationships that never begin, sicknesses that never take hold, opportunities that never come because they would have led us down the wrong path.

Psalm 32:6 (GNT) says:

“So all your loyal people should pray to you in times of need; when a great flood of trouble comes rushing in, it will not reach them.”

How many times has God kept us from trouble that never even touched us? We may go about our daily lives thinking things are just normal, but what if we knew how many times He intervened before danger even reached us?

The Hedge of Protection

We see this reality in the life of Job. When Satan approached God, he acknowledged something profound:

"Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land." – Job 1:9–10 (ESV)

Satan himself recognized that Job’s life was surrounded by God’s protection. The enemy had likely tried to attack Job many times but failed because of God’s divine shield.

The same is true for us. We may focus on the struggles we can see—frustrations in our job, financial stress, health challenges—but we often forget about the trials God has already blocked from touching us.

• You may be frustrated with your job, but someone else is desperately searching for one.
• You may have a health condition, but others never had the opportunity to manage theirs.
• You may feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities, but God has prevented situations that could have made life even harder.

God’s Protection in Our Everyday Lives

A powerful example of God’s unseen protection is found in the life of Timothy. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul tells him:

“Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”

Timothy, a trusted companion of Paul—the same Paul who performed miracles and healed the sick (Acts 19:11)—still had to manage his own health struggles. This verse reminds us that even though God performs miracles, sometimes His protection comes in the form of sustaining us through our trials rather than removing them entirely.

There is unseen protection in both prevention and endurance. Some dangers God completely removes, while others He allows but equips us to handle.

Gratitude in Every Season

So the next time you feel like God isn’t answering your prayers the way you expected, take a moment to thank Him for the dangers He has already shielded you from. The things you never had to face are just as much a testimony of His faithfulness as the battles He has helped you through.

As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (GW) reminds us:

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.”

Even in the challenges, we have so much to be thankful for. God is always working—protecting, guiding, and covering us in ways we might never fully understand.

Final Encouragement

Sister, today, take a deep breath and trust that God’s unseen protection is over your life. The job you still have, the health you maintain, the peace in your home, and even the delays or closed doors that frustrated you—these are all part of His hand at work.

Rest in the assurance that His divine protection surrounds you, even when you don’t see it. He is faithful. He is watching over you. He is keeping you safe.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the countless ways You protect me—both seen and unseen. Help me to trust in Your divine plan, even when I don’t understand it. Fill my heart with gratitude for Your faithfulness, and remind me that You are always watching over me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.