Looking for a Place to Hide?

Psalm 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Ever felt like you're at the end of your rope, the stress is about to kill you and you'd love to just check out of the world for a while?

Many of the police and firefighters working the devastation in New York on Sept. 11 and afterward have testified that nothing prepared them for the scope of what they witnessed at Ground Zero. There was no refuge from the disturbing scene they encountered.

Sometimes we make our own horrific circumstances. Other times, they're forced upon us. Sometimes, the situations we're faced with rectify themselves in a short time. Other times, there's no easy remedy and no end in sight. We just have to learn how to cope in the middle of the pain.

That's where King David -- he's the same guy who killed the giant Goliath with a slingshot and a stone -- found himself many times in the Bible. Before he was king, he was a shepherd, off by himself for days at a time with his father's flocks. He had to fight lions and bears that attacked the sheep as well as robbers who wanted to help themselves. There was no humanly help available.

Then, even though God had told David he would be king after King Saul, David had to wait 12 years, many of those as a hunted animal himself with King Saul set on murdering him and preventing God's plan from taking place. David was driven into the desert areas of Israel and soon began living in caves to save his life.

During those years, there were times when he became terribly discouraged. But when he did, he'd use his secret weapon -- he'd take refuge in the One he'd been leaning on since his shepherding days.

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in You, my soul takes refuge," he wrote in the Psalms. "I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High who fulfills His purpose for me."

David discovered that even in the middle of the battle, he could find peace and a stillness in his soul when he focused on God -- on who God is and what God had already done for him. When David took his eyes and mind off the circumstances he was in and let his thoughts dwell on God, he found refuge from the tumult and chaos of his life.

The Bible tells another story of people who found God to be their refuge. It's the story of Ninevah, a city infamous for the cruel and wicked nature of the people who lived in it. God sent Jonah, one of his prophets to Ninevah to tell them to repent of their evil ways or God was going to wipe out the whole city. Jonah didn't want to go, because he knew God was a God of mercy, and, if the people listened to the message and truly repented, God would spare them. Jonah didn't want them spared because of the wicked things they'd done to his people, the Jews. But, he eventually went to Ninevah and preached the message of repentance. The people did listen, including the king. They repented and turned away from the evil they'd done and sought refuge in God. And, sure enough, God relented of the judgment He was planning for them and granted them mercy. Judgment didn't come to the city and people of Nenevah for a long time after that until once again, the people had forgotten God and invested themselves totally in evil.

God will be the same refuge for us. He's the same yesterday, today and forever. Maybe we're walking in sin and need to heed His call to repentance. Maybe we're feeling overwhelmed with worries, stress and responsibility and need a place of quiet. Maybe we're exhausted from the daily battle of life. Maybe we've seen too much of the devastation caused by evil and can't get those pictures out of our minds. Whatever the circumstances or situation, God provides the needed refuge. All we need to do is put our trust in Him.

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