Growing up in Southern California, I often participated in earthquake drills at school. At the time, we were taught to take shelter under our desks or under a door frame.

Today we know the best tactic is to crouch next to a large piece of heavy furniture. Researchers studied pictures of rooms damaged by earthquakes and noticed that the debris landed with one end on the heavy furniture and the other end on the floor, forming triangles of safety that provided much more protection than a desk or reinforced door frame.

When crouching in the open next to furniture with only your hands over your head, you feel vulnerable. But actually, you are in the best place. Faith is like that.

When Satan comes along with strong temptations, we mustn’t think we are safe by trying to resist on our own. No. We have to get next to our big God and believe that He wants to help us and will do all we allow Him to keep us from sinning.

Just as we wouldn’t run towards an earthquake zone when activity is present, so we must not place ourselves in temptation’s way either. But when there is no choice, and the devil’s fiery darts are raining all around us, we raise our shield of faith by clinging to Almighty God.