The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. —Psalm 145:20

How beautifully this principle is illustrated in the lives of Joash and Paul! Little Joash, at only seven years of age, was defenseless against the ruthless Queen Athaliah. “Joash and his nurse remained hidden in the Temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land” (2 Kings 11:3). Only the Lord could have kept him from crying at the wrong moment or being seen by someone who was friendly to the queen. Athaliah finally met her death, the Lord fulfilling His promise to destroy the wicked. Paul faced great danger from the Jews at Corinth. “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, ‘Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me’ ” (Acts 18:9-10). The Jews’ efforts to bring legal action against Paul ended in their being thrown out of court in one moment of time. Satan makes you think the end is here, the worst has come, and the game is lost. Remember: It’s not over until it’s over. The Lord is watching over you!