Dr. Dan Hayden • 

The church picnic was wonderful. Everyone was having a good time. Then suddenly it began to rain—a real downpour, and everyone scurried for the shelter. How nice it was to be out of the rain and sheltered from the storm!

In Psalm 46:1 we are told that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” That’s good to know when the sky gets cloudy and the wind begins to blow as a raging storm invades your life.

The word “refuge” is a Hebrew word that refers to a shelter. In a figurative sense, it is a place of hope—a refuge from troubling times. This word comes from a root verb that means “to flee for protection; to seek a place of refuge.” Now that is what God is for us. He is the One to whom we go for protection and safety. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”

 

Prior to becoming King of Israel, David often had to flee for his life as King Saul, out of jealousy sought to kill him. David would flee into the Judean Wilderness and find refuge in some cave. But he knew that his real shelter from the storm was the God of his life. I am sure that David often reflected on the fact that God was his “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Have you discovered this wonderful provision of God for your life? We all face times of difficulty. Sometimes it’s just a rainy day—some discouragement along the way. But at other times it’s an actual storm, with howling winds and a torrential downpour. Well, don’t just stand in the rain and let the winds blow you about! Head for the shelter, and find your protection in the Lord.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Say – A Shelter isn’t any benefit if you don’t use it. It’s better to come to Him and trust Him!