Shadow of His Wings

"Love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
"Be still and know that I am God."

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Manchester.
The past week brought chaos to this country with riots breaking out in a number of major cities throughout England. The riots even broke out in our own city, Manchester, disorder breaking out in the city centre, with shops being looted and some even burned.
Yesterday, as a church, we lifted up our city and nation to the Lord, for restoration and an end to the violence.  It was beautiful to see the church come together with one heart and cry to the Lord.
Esther, Liz, and I joined in singing in the choir as the youth led worship.  I felt so honoured to be able to feel a part of the church even if it was just for a bit before I leave in a week.
As I start to think about leaving home yet again, my heart's first reaction is fear, uncertainty.
I'm going back to the familiar, and yet, I've been really working through a lot in my heart.
As I've been praying through this, the Lord has really been bringing to mind the idea of a covering.
I think a lot of my fear and insecurity about leaving lies in that I feel safe at home with my family.  I am under the covering of my parents, and under their covering, I feel like I don't have to worry because they are taking care of me.
The past years, I haven't completely felt what it is to be away from them because they have been able to come through for me when I was really in need.
I felt that the Lord was reminding me it is time to come out from under that covering, the sense of security that I've gotten from my family, and to place myself under His covering.  It's time to learn what it means to be directly under His covering, His protection, His provision.
I'm in a place where I can't provide for this year, and neither can my parents.
I don't know what this year holds, but I know He's calling me to surrender the control I've tried to maintain and trust that He will come through for me.
I'm learning what it means to live in the shadow of His wings.
Psalm 36:7,” “How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find protection under the shadow of your wings.” 
“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”