My Refuge
Toowoomba is a beautiful place, but bitterly cold in winter. I remember spending a week there with family a number of years ago now when our kids were small. It was quite warm when we arrived, but the temperature fell very quickly. On one of the mornings, it was decided that the small children had been cooped up long enough and we needed to get out for a bit. So we headed off, with morning tea in hand, in search of a playground. Not long after arriving at the park at Picnic Point, we realized what a crazy idea it was. It was freezing! OK, maybe not freezing, but the temperature was definitely in single figures. And being up on top of the Range, there was also a healthy wind blowing. After about 5 minutes of the kids climbing and playing, and the adults jumping around just trying to keep warm, we gave up and sought refuge under a rocket ship. No, it was not a real rocket ship, much to the disappointment of the 6-year-old. It did, however, provide us with enough protection from the wind to allow us to sit and eat our picnic. Needless to say, the outing didn’t last long and we soon returned to our toasty warm house.
That rocket ship was our refuge on a cold, windy day. And God wants to be our refuge in life.
The Bible tells us in numerous places that God is our safe place, our protection, our comfort, our refuge. Nahum prophesied to God’s oppressed people, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble” (1:7). David sang to the Lord after being delivered from his enemies, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge…He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour…” (2 Sam. 22:2-4). And as recorded in the book of Psalms, David sings, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9).
But just as it was our decision and our will to seek shelter under that rocket ship, so we must come to God as our refuge. There were others at the park who stood out in the wind. They didn’t seek refuge. They just pulled their jackets tighter around themselves, endured the weather and probably felt cold and miserable. They could have sought shelter, but they didn’t.
The Nahum verse I quoted above has another sentence. The verse in full reads “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” Trusting simply means thinking on Him, seeking Him, crying out to Him, praying to Him. And when I put my trust in Him, He becomes my refuge. It’s a conscious decision on my behalf. It’s me saying “God I need you to be my refuge, my safe place, my strong tower.” God is waiting and willing, but I need to seek Him, submit to Him and put my trust in Him.
It is my earnest prayer that you will seek God as your refuge. I know that you will find Him to be good, and faithful, and all that you need, because that’s what God’s word promises — “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)
Blessings,
Caroline
