Why the Title "The Coverings"?

 

    That’s a very good question I am eager to answer, starting with my journey as a child. When I was seven years old, I was living in what I’ve described as a hostile environment. Blatant rejection from my parents left me with a broken heart. Desperately struggling, hoping my mama would love me, hurt me to my core. So I lived my life with fear, doubt, and despair.

 

    As a hopeless child, I found myself searching for things to calm me. At times, lying to myself and to others was my solution. Once I made up an imaginary friend. Every day, I bragged about the goodies she gave me from the store when, actually, I was stealing the treats and telling people Mrs. Brown had given them to me. This comforted me for a while. But then I was caught and threatened by the owner of the store; he picked up the phone and said he was talking to the police. He told me they were coming to put me in jail. That was exactly what I needed. How relieved I was when he decided to let me go if I promised to never do it again!

 

    It seemed that absolutely everything I needed the most was nowhere to be found. Oh, how I yearned for my mother’s love. I wanted to talk to her about my problems, wanted to touch her. But every time I tried to touch her, she pushed me away. Simply put, I wanted to experience that mother–child connection. But that wasn’t going to happen. She rejected me as if she absolutely despised me. I didn’t understand why. My tears turned into depression, low self-esteem, fear, and ultimately anger.

 

    One day I had a different perspective. My anger toward my mother changed. I was angry with God, and I had to let Him know it.

 

    So I went into a small room, looked out the window at the trees, and stared up into the blue sky. I asked God why. Aloud, I said, “I know you made this whole world; I know You made me. My parents don’t love me. They don’t want me, and I know that since You made this whole world, You could have prevented me from being born. Why, God, why?” I cried out to Him.

 

    Immediately, I heard His response in my heart: “I love you, and I want you to go to church and learn about Me.” Instantly, I felt happy, but I had more questions. I said to Him, “I’m just a little girl. Who’s going to comb my hair; who’s going to iron my clothes?” He said, “Go as you are.” Peace beyond words settled upon my hopeless spirit. I did exactly what He asked, unashamedly and without reservation.

 

    God continued showing me His plans for my life in the midst of subsequent hostile situations. His love is always crystal clear in my mind because I know He is all knowing, all powerful, the only wise God. I understand that everything happens for one of two reasons: He ordered it, or He allowed it.

 

    When I became an adult, my mother explained herself to me with godly repentance. Every time I said to her, “I love you,” she always responded, “I love you more.” Finally, we had that mother–child connection I had always longed for. It lasted for more than fifty years until she died. It was amazing!

 

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

 

    I’m forever grateful to God for choosing a poor girl like me, who was covered by shadows of doubt and fear. I will forever serve Him because I know His promises are true. More than just a survivor, I became a soldier in the army of the Lord. Biblically, the helmet of salvation covered my head, and the breastplate of righteousness covered my heart (Ephesians 6:11–17) Rejection from some people became acceptance from those chosen to assist me on my journey. Understanding that hurt people hurt people, I became driven by criticism, prayerful during loneliness, and resilient in failure to remember who was covering me. “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning” was the song in my mind during difficult times. Trusting God, thriving rather than just surviving in my carnal desires, became my focus. I realized that rejection from people was protection for me. Literally praying to hear the inaudible and see the invisible became my way of living. Some describe that as “thinking out of the box.” Learning about the brain–mind, –heart, and –gut connections and how to “connect the dots” have been invaluable concepts. So, when I decide to sin, I feel disconnected in my relationship with God. Then, with a repentant heart, I go to Him knowing He forgives. Covered with God’s mercy and grace, I stand upon His promises to me. I LOVE His covering!

 

    He has given me the Bible as my resource and a human nature to apply His teaching. No longer do I struggle without hope. At times, doubt, fear, low self-esteem, and deception will get me down. But I absolutely refuse to stay down, covered in despair. You see, when I chose God, He chose me, and He has covered me with biblical knowledge and wisdom for my journey.

 

Revelation 4:1 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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The Covering of God, the Creator

 

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

    The Trinity, God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are revealed in these verses.

 

Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

    The massive earth surrounding Adam and Eve was beautiful in every sense of the word. Sunlight revealed the beauty of the day, a time in which they interacted with God’s creations. The lesser light, the moon, provided the perfect environment for resting their bodies, their minds, and their souls. Indeed, a miraculous ecosystem was designed to provide rain, oxygen, wind, interaction with animals, food to nourish their bodies, and absolutely everything both seen and countless systems unseen was very good. The fact that He made man and woman last spoke volumes to my heart as I penned these words.

 

Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called but few chosen.

 

Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

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                                                                                        Satanic Coverings of Deception

 

    Satan, known as Lucifer, wanted to be equal to God. Endeavoring to fulfill his desire to “be like the most high,” the Almighty God, he was cast to the earth, where he has operated as the devil. God allowed him to choose his path. Once an angel of light and subsequently covered in darkness, he had made up his mind. Methodically, he developed a plan to destroy God’s most precious creation, humanity. Animosity was within his wicked heart, and deception was his strategy. Presenting doubt and confusion was his ploy to exalt himself above God. Satan’s plan to disturb the peace God created has never changed!

 

Genesis 3:4–6 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

 

    When they listened to the words of Satan and desired the forbidden fruit, ungodly thoughts took root in their minds. Given free will, they believed a lie and were deceived.

 

Genesis 3:9–11 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said,I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

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God’s Redemptive Coverings of Grace

 

Genesis 3:21 The sacrifice - Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

 

Romans 10:9–10 Eternal life - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

 

    God, knowing the heartfelt repentance of His children, provided the covering of unconditional love, mercy, and grace. Praise God because His love covers a multitude of sins. Listening to the voice of God is the answer to all our difficulties in life. Yes, there are consequences when we disobey Him. Absolutely, and as He covered Adam and Eve, He offers His covering for every man, woman, boy, and girl.

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Jesus Christ, Personification of Forgiveness

 

John 3:16–17 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

 

    We know, as Christians, that this love and salvation is real.  And yet, we all continue to sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

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Rosie M. Hill, The Coverings

©The Coverings 2014–2019