Covered in His Feathers

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Covered in His Feathers

by Bridget Gray

2020 started with my dad beginning chemo treatments and my oldest daughter fighting pneumonia (which included a hospital stay). My nerves were on edge, and my anxiety was HIGH. So why not add a global pandemic on top of all that, right?

I’ll admit that in early March, when the Coronavirus arrived in Rome, I was a nervous wreck. I knew I was feeling anxiety that I’d never felt before. I also KNEW it was time to heavily rely on my faith.

On Wednesday, March 11, I looked through the variety of the podcasts in my phone, praying to find one that would speak directly to what I was feeling. I can’t remember the title to the one I found, but I do recall it was about relying on the Lord when you feel scared.

The Scripture passage for this episode was Psalm 91. It wasn’t a passage I’d studied in the past. I couldn’t recall ever hearing about what verse 4 says: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” The study leader told the story about how her teenage daughter was involved in a scary car accident and how this woman was hours away from her daughter. All she could do was pray for her until she could get to her. Specifically, she prayed for the Lord to “cover” her daughter. Her daughter thankfully walked away without being seriously hurt. This woman’s friend told her that she had come upon the accident not long after it had happened. She walked up to the scene because she recognized the car. This friend recalled thinking, “There’s no way this will go well.” And then, at her feet, right next to the driver’s door—was a feather. I had chills when I heard this.

Back to that week. When I got home that Wednesday, I received a text from someone in whom I’d confided my fears. It read, “The Lord wanted me to share this with you. Hold on to the words of Psalm 91.” Chills! Two days later was Friday, March 13, the day I was sent home to work like many others. That morning, I prayed Psalm 91 over and over. I don’t recall what brought this song to mind, but I pulled up “You Cover Me” by Prestonwood Choir and 38 // August 2020

listened to it that morning. The song is taken straight from Psalm 91! It was maybe the second time I’d ever heard it, but the Lord brought it to me that morning.

That night, the atmosphere was very strange with everything happening and the heightened sense of nervousness all around. I opened my Bible to Psalm 91 and left it open to that passage for weeks. My husband noticed it and asked me, “Do you not know what’s on my arm?” He raised his sleeve to show me a tattoo I knew was there—a male angel with very large wings. I thought, “So what, I’ve seen it before.” But then, I noticed the writing above his tattoo. Chills covered my arms and tears filled my eyes because I knew then all these

little things were no coincidence. Our sweet Heavenly Father was reaching down to me, some worried mama in Rome, Georgia. Right above my husband’s tattoo was, “Psalm 91.” I knew the Lord was telling me, “I’m covering you.”

How precious it is to know that our God, who is hearing MILLIONS of prayers at the same time, especially during times of chaos and uncertainty, reached down to remind me, “I will COVER you.” Don’t ever think He isn’t listening to you, that He’s not hearing you. Just be sure that you are ready to hear Him when He speaks.

About The Author Bridget Gray is a native Roman & received her BA in English from the University of West Georgia in 2002. A self-professed “book nerd”, Bridget enjoys roaming through Barnes & Noble in her rare free time. Bridget & her family (husband Jarrett & daughters Carter & Avery) attend LIFE Church.