God is Our Refuge

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3

Every day it seems that things are getting more and more out of control in the world. Within the last couple of months, many people have been let down by the things they had relied on their whole life. The money they counted on making in the stock market has disappeared; the jobs, economy, the American way of life seem to be slipping out of people's grasp; and the house that some counted on has been taken from them or destroyed in natural disasters. Similarly, many people feel helpless because no one seems to be able to solve the world's many problems, and for people all over the world, there is a foreboding of war as Iran and North Korea gain nuclear capabilities. Through all this, no one country or person can seem to bring order to the chaos we live in.

The good news, however, is that God has not abandoned us in our trouble. The invisible God is present to bring the things this world cannot provide. God is present with you when you don't feel like you have the strength to continue treating. He is there to provide the resources that families, hospitals, and governments can't provide. And God can be your refuge when the storms of life threaten to rob you of your hope and joy.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. Psalm 46:4-5

To experience God's peace, however, you must choose between the places you want to live. On the one hand is the wilderness outside the City of God. This wilderness is completely opposite of God's holy habitation. In this wilderness, there is no life, only baking sun and endless toil. It's a solitary place where you have no help, no comfort and no community. This country is a wild place, filled with danger and chaos, where it seems disaster could sweep in and destroy you, all of your possessions, and life itself away at any minute. If you were to ask me what this wilderness looks like, I would say that this world pretty much fits the bill.

The City of God, on the other hand, is a shining city on a hill that can't be moved. We read about this city in Revelation 22:1-3. In that passage, God's presence is described as a stream which brings life to the city's inhabitance. The life that flows from God's stream creates racial reconciliation and healing. Also, people no longer have to rob, cheat, or create false economies, because God's stream gives his people the life they need.

Consequently, there are no more wars because his people are satisfied with God's provision. Those who are going through struggles will never have to go it alone, because all those who dwell in the City of God are community. This community's resource exceeds that of any single family, organization or government. God sees your need, and, in perfect timing, when morning dawns, He will give you what you need.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:7

You can rest in His refuge, because it provides the security you need. In this verse, God promises to make you an unmovable fortress against your enemies. You are safe in the most dangerous circumstances, because The Lord of Hosts, Jehovah Sabaoth, surrounds you. In 2 Kings 6:15-17, Elisha's servant was scared when he saw that the Syrian army had surrounded them. Elisha prayed that his servant's eyes would be opened, and the servant saw the angels on the hilltops surrounding their enemies. When you are surrounded by trouble, I implore you to lift up your eyes and see that the Lord of Host has commanded his army of angels to protect you.

You can also rest because the God of Jacob is our foundation that can't be moved. He is your foundation when the earth under you is moving and you can't find a stable place to stand. People come and go in our lives because of death, divorce, and disputes, but God never leaves us. We have an unmovable rock to hold onto when the mountains we depended on crash. We can maintain this assurance even as the waters roar and foam over our finances, health, country or economy. We can have this peace, because out stability is founded on something more sure then the things we can touch, see and feel around us, and we can have this peace and rest when we rely on the God of Jacob to sustain us rather than the things of this world.

But just how do you hide yourself in God's refuge? First, you have to be in the community of faith to enjoy the City of God. In other words, you have to first believe that there is a God before you can believe that He can help you (Heb 11.6). Similarly, you also have to believe that He is active in the world, or the whole idea of God is pretty worthless. What point is there of there being a God if He just sits back and does nothing? Secondly, it's not good enough to believe in a god that can morph into whatever shape you please. God will not allow any weapon, power, fortress, or city to steal the glory He deserves. You have to be united with the community of God who believes that He is our only hope, weapon or power to be included to the City of God. Only those who seek to promote God's fame over their own selfish agendas will be allowed into Gods holy habitation.

Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. Psalm 46:8

Thirdly, we must slow down and behold the work and glory of God. We come to see what God can do for us by reading in His word what He has done for others. You become certain of God's deliverance only after you have saturated yourself with the stories of how God brought His children through adversity.

You will never be fully convinced that God can break the bow of your enemies until you read how God broke the bow of Israel's enemies. You will never be fully convinced that God can break the spear of your enemies until you read how tiny David killed Goliath and took his giant spear from him. You will never be fully convinced that God can burn the chariots of your enemies until you read how the mighty general Sisera's 900 chariots were turned aside by one peasant woman. In short, you will never see God's power until you become acquainted with the community of Old Testament saints and identify with them.

• Email This Page to a Friend
• Print this Page