On a hot Florida afternoon, a little boy swimming in the lake behind his house didn’t see the alligator that was following him. His father, who was gardening, saw it and yelled to his son to turn back. Too late! Just as the boy reached his dad, the alligator reached the boy. In an incredible tug-of-war the father grabbed his son’s arms while the alligator snatched his legs. The alligator was determined, but the father was too passionate to let go. A farmer driving by heard the screaming, leaped from his truck, and shot the reptile. Remarkably, the boy survived, and after weeks in the hospital he was interviewed by the local paper. He showed the reporter the terrible scars on his legs, then with obvious pride he added, ‘I’ve got great scars on my arms too because my dad held me and wouldn’t let go!’ Jesus said, ‘[You] are protected from the Destroyer…No one can steal [you]…out of my hand.’ It’s not that the enemy won’t try. He’ll make you think you’re so far from God that there’s no way home. He’ll send others to attack you with discouragement and guilt. He’ll tempt you to walk away from God. You may even make poor choices that leave you spiritually and emotionally scarred, but when you belong to God no one can have you! No circumstances can take you away from His love (see Romans 8:38). No consequence can steal you from the hand of your Father. ‘Your Father’s got you!’ Let those powerful words of assurance give you peace today.