FINDING REFUGE

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 10:29-30, 12:3, 14:26, 14:32, 22:3

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I have recently been ministering to a few people who are experiencing the heartache and hardship that comes from broken relationships. In at least one instance, the person is facing having to leave an abusive environment and break away on their own, a scary proposition when you haven’t done it before and have limited knowledge and resources to do so. It’s in these times, and others like it, that we cry out for help and seek refuge in a place where we can feel safe and loved.

Enter God’s word as always when we need direction. For in a world that brings so much uncertainty and trials to our lives, these words of the psalmist should be written on our hearts:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The message is clear. No matter what we go through, God is there with us, in good times and in bad. When it seems like we have no safe place to go, He, and He alone, is our refuge. When we don’t think we have strength to go on, He, and He alone is our strength and lifts up to where we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). And truly, no one is ever present and ready to help us in times of trouble than God. Too often though we forget that.

Solomon had something to say about this as well. You can almost sense that he had gained the concept from his father David who had preceded him as king of Israel for David was very well versed in the psalms. Look at Solomon’s words on the matter of finding refuge:

The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. Proverbs 10:29

The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. Proverbs 10:30

No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. Proverbs 12:3

Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God. Proverbs 14:32

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 22:3

So what do we learn about finding refuge?

The first main thing is that we need to be living in the way of the Lord. In other words, we need to be offering ourselves up to Him as living sacrifices, setting aside our own will and desires and replacing them with His. When we do this, then we will be living in righteousness as He marks our steps, becoming more blameless than blamed and ever more in God’s refuge through living in His ways.

Continuing to do this, to remain grounded in the Lord and His ways and principles, will result in us developing strong roots in Him, the only true, firm foundation we can build upon. This will allow us to weather the storms of life when they come because we will never be uprooted if we remain anchored in God.

Another by-product of a flourishing, vibrant relationship with God is that we more and more develop a deeper reverence and respect for Him in our lives. We see how He does provide and protect and guide those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Him and this fear of the Lord not only protects us as if we were living in a secure fortress but it watches over our children as well. Those who are wise and prudent will not place themselves in a position of vulnerability but seek safety in God, their refuge.

Finally, finding refuge in God offers us protection shelter and security, not just now but forever more when we believe and trust in His Son Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Remember this promise from God’s word, assuring us safe harbor in this life and in the eternal one to come:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

For God so loved the world that He gave Jesus. His only Son, so that those who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The everlasting life God promised us through Jesus will be spent living and abiding with both of them, free from all the tribulations, difficulties, suffering, and sin we are afflicted with in this worldly existence. This is the heart of the Gospel and the heart of our hope to live in peace and serenity, today and through every day that God grants us.

I don’t know what you may be going through today but I do know this:

God is your refuge and strength, your very present help in times of trouble.

I pray today that you will come to know that too and find deliverance from the anxiety, stress, worry, and fear you may be experiencing. Let go and let God, finding His peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7) and finding refuge in His loving, caring arms.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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