God is Our Refuge

David said, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Ps. 46:1-3). We all know what trouble is. All of us deal with it, but the difference is, like David, we have a refuge, an ever-present help in time of trouble. This refuge is our place to take shelter—a place to run in the storm for protection. God is that refuge!

This week I was on the playground, where children played loudly, and I looked up and saw a bird sitting on her eggs. She was ever so gentle and peaceful, doing what she was created to do even while the children played below. It reminded me of this verse: “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young — a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you (Ps. 84:3-4). We are never more at home than when we are in God’s house with God’s people praising Him. We can live in this troubled world and be at peace.

Life can be very difficult, with its emotional storms that bring on discouragement, frustration, hopelessness, and feelings of inadequacy. We often respond by withdrawing, and our motivation evaporates into thin air. Our contact with others diminishes, and we feel a lack of energy. Prolonged discouragement can be dangerous because we become aimless, but if we seek God as our refuge during this period, we can find renewed hope and purpose. It is our choice, as Isaiah says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15). If we turn to God and make him our refuge and repent of our wrongdoing, we will find rest, but if we refuse, our discouragement will only grow worse.

We cannot make our lives truly good without God’s help, but with God we can experience transformation: “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17). That sounds pretty good. It is worth a try!