Shield and Share within the Architecture of Faith
Isaac Megbolugbe
November 4, 2025
Introduction
The agony that Jesus went through in the Garden of Gethsemane represents a model of how God shields and shares our pain in the midst of struggles and testing of our faith. Jesus was strengthened to endure what he suffered through betrayal, suffering, and ultimately death on the Cross. The Angel of God stayed with Jesus through his ordeal, demonstrating God’s presence and comfort in the midst of pain.
The Shield of God’s Presence
God’s presence is our shield, protecting us from the overwhelming forces of darkness and despair. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced the depth of God’s presence, which sustained him through his darkest hour. Similarly, the apostle Paul experienced God’s presence as a shield, strengthening him to endure the burden of thorns that tormented him (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
The Sharing of God’s Experience
God not only shields us from pain but also shares our experience, walking with us through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane demonstrates God’s willingness to share our pain, taking upon himself the weight of our suffering. The apostle Paul wrote, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5).
The Lesson of Trust and Abiding
The lesson from Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane and the apostle Paul’s experience with the burden of thorns is to remain trusting and abiding in all circumstances. We are to lean on the presence and comfort of God’s shield, trusting that He will perfect His strength in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Examples from Scripture
Scripture provides numerous examples of God’s shielding and sharing presence:
1. Daniel in the Lion’s Den: God shielded Daniel from the power of the lions, demonstrating His presence and protection (Daniel 6:16-23).
2. The Three Hebrew Youths: God shielded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace, demonstrating His presence and deliverance (Daniel 3:19-30).
3. The Apostle Paul’s Thorn: God shared Paul’s experience, strengthening him to endure the burden of thorns and demonstrating His perfecting strength in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Conclusion
The architecture of faith is built on the foundation of God’s shielding and sharing presence. As we navigate the struggles and testing of our faith, we can trust that God will shield us from pain but will not remove it. His presence will share our experience, walking with us through the valley of the shadow of death. May we remain trusting and abiding in all circumstances, leaning on the presence and comfort of His shield.
Isaac Megbolugbe, Director of GIVA Ministries International, retired professor at Johns Hopkins University, 2024 Marquis Organization’s Class of Top Executives in the United States of America and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is resident in the United States of America.
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