Not long ago, my family and I went to a planetarium to see a presentation about the solar system. We visited a local university that was specifically studying the planet Jupiter. While we were there, we were able to look through their telescopes and gaze at our moon and even see a close-up view of Venus. It was an incredible experience. During the presentation, we learned some interesting facts about Jupiter.

• If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh 264 pounds on Jupiter.

• Jupiter’s volume is large enough to contain 1,300 planets the size of Earth.

• Jupiter rotates faster than any planet in the Solar System.

• It rotates so quickly that the days are only 10 hours long…

• It takes 12 Earth years for Jupiter to complete an orbit around the sun.

• The great red spot on Jupiter is a storm that has been going on for over 300 years.

• You can fit 100 Earths into Jupiter’s great red spot.

• The Planet has over 60 known satellites (moons), but most of them are extremely small and faint.

The most amazing fact we learned was that Jupiter is perfectly positioned to be Earth’s shield. When meteors and asteroids come flying through space, Jupiter sucks them into to its extreme gravitational pull and takes the hit for our planet. Some asteroids that hit Jupiter would undoubtedly destroy Earth, but by the time any fragments get through Jupiter’s protection, they are small enough that the Earth’s atmosphere is easily able to disintegrate them. When I learned all this, I was reminded of this scripture: 

Psalm 19:1-4

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Martin Luther said, “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” Not only does Jupiter speak of the creative power of God, but it serves as a picture of who God is for us: He is our protector and our defender. When we are positioned in His will, He is our shield.

Psalm 3:3

But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

We were not created to walk with our head down in despair and discouragement as though circumstances will defeat us. Jesus has come to lift our heads so we can look up in victory. When we lift our eyes up to Him who sits on high and to the One who pours His glory into us we are filled with abounding faith.

Psalm 121:1-3

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber. 

We can rest in the supernatural peace of knowing that God is our Jupiter. He is our covering—taking the hits for us. Whatever issue you are dealing with right now, know this: you can trust God. You can put your faith in His will and His ways for your life. Lift your eyes up in victory and have faith in God Almighty. Let Him watch over you and gird you. You are reading this right now, this very moment, because God wants you to know that He is bigger than any challenge you are facing. It is not an accident that you are seeing these words. God directed you here, for such a time as this, to know that He is at work and wants to lift your eyes up in hope. Though you may feel inadequate, understand that you are God’s prized creation. When you lift up your eyes into the night sky and see the beautiful galaxy, let it always be a reminder that God is your protector and shield.