Our Refuge and Our Strength
Psalm 62:1-2, 8
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 32:8
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
One of my most treasured possessions is a journal that belonged to my mom. My mom journaled often and we discovered many of her journals after her death. She would journal to record positive things: the growth of plants in her yard, grandchildren’s events and games, and wonderful trips with my dad and other couples. Her journals also chronicled the challenges of waiting for biopsy or scan results, dealing with the effects of radiation, and even the recovery from her first stroke. My mom lived with uncertainty for many years, due to multiple cancer diagnoses. Outwardly, she met her health challenges with strength and perseverance, but her journals point us to where she found her inner strength and hope. While my mom’s journals contain comments about her daily activities, the majority of her journals are filled with scripture passages. It is clear that these passages held special meaning for her and gave her hope.
The scripture passages in my mom’s journals contain many themes, but a recurring theme is that God was her refuge. Often following a reference to a doctor’s appointment or difficult news, she would write a verse acknowledging God as a refuge. I have shared some of these verses above as I invite you to consider what it means to have God as our refuge and our strength. The definition of the word “refuge” is a place of protection, shelter, or safety. A refuge is more than just a hiding place. It’s a safe haven, a fortress where we are protected, strengthened, and reminded of Who holds our lives in His hands. David knew firsthand how God could be his rock and refuge when he sought protection when Saul was pursuing him. And because God is not only a refuge but also our strength, He doesn’t just protect us—He gives us what we need to persevere and move forward.
To seek God as a refuge is to run to Him with all that we have—our fears, our pain, our questions. Like a child running into the arms of a parent during a thunderstorm, we are invited to take shelter in God’s presence. He can hold all of our fears, pain, and uncertainty and He desires to be our hiding place and safe haven. The storms in our lives may not calm or cease, but God can provide peace and comfort in the midst of them. I saw that firsthand in my mom’s life and while the words in her journal still often bring me to tears, her words, and the scripture she has written, also point me to the hope and strength she found in Jesus. I pray that you, too, regardless of what challenges you may be facing, can find that hope and peace in the refuge of our God.