He’s Got Your Back

It was the night before my first book signing and David and I were talking before bed. “How are you going to sign them when people ask you to?” David questioned me. I guffawed that anyone would actually want MY signature and then shrugged off the need to come up with an answer. We fell asleep shortly thereafter and the next day dawned.

My beloved husband has been trying to “redo” our kitchen slowly over time. We were given some appliances the previous week that were far superior to what our 1973 kitchen contained, so naturally he was excited to install them. And of course he had a crew helping him THAT night. The night I was getting ready to leave and go have our book’s “debut.” As in– he began ripping through walls and tearing out tile while I was BLOWDRYING MY HAIR getting ready to leave. Imagine my shock when I turned off the hairdryer to find THIS happening in my kitchen.

So anyhow, I go to give my little speech. Nearly everyone at the signing bought multiple books. It was a glorious opening and yes, someone asked me to sign it.

And I sat there, clueless as to what to write. Pen shaking in my hand I fumbled a few thoughts and quickly scribbled:

“He’s got your back! –Lyette Reback”

Not completely sure that was the best signature… it was all I could think of at the time and as the line for women buying books grew I just kept signing away.

The following night I had another speaking engagement and the room was just as packed as the previous one. Nearly everyone bought multiple copies and gladly waited in line while I continued with the previous sentiment before my name. It was now a phrase I thought quite fitting and believed with my whole heart. God knows He’s had my back every day of this job for the last 20 years.

But then my most excellent right hand, Kristine, the assistant/dear friend/darn-near-daughter came over excited to share something she had learned from her Bible study today.

“Do you know WHY you write ‘He’s got your back’ every time you sign a book?”

“Nope. Other than it’s the only thing that came to me in a near state of panic at the first book signing I did.”

She went on to explain. “Look up Isaiah 58 again.”

Isaiah 58 is a chapter God clearly gave me years ago. At the time I didn’t understand large portions of what that scripture was supposed to mean, but over the last decade it has been my good pleasure to have Him reveal it over time.

“The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry and He will say,’Here I am.'”- Isaiah 58:8,9

“So quite literally, He’s got my back!” I told Kristine.

She explained that it was way more than that. A woman in her Bible study that morning said what a rear guard does in the military. A rear guard does not only cover your (a-hem) rear…but they are also there so that if you falter and begin to retreat they continue to push you forward in battle.

I was astonished. This little phrase I drummed up on the spot was actually Holy Spirit inspired. It was part of a section of scripture and promises God had given me more than 15 years ago. And I can’t even begin to fathom the amount of covering my fanny God has done over the last 20 years and I KNOW there have been many times when I was too scared to move forward, too afraid to move on, or quite literally running away in retreat where He has used His loving Word, my husband, and many dear friends to spur me forward in my job as a mother, a writer and in this ministry.

So now you know the rest of the story. If you’ve been to one of my book signings, maybe my scribble makes more sense. If you haven’t then just know that He’s got your back. In every sense of the word. He promises. And He is FAITHFUL.

[bctt tweet=”He’s got your back. In every sense of the word. He promises. And He is FAITHFUL.”]