A REFUGE FOR SURE

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

My grandparents had a noticeable small hill in their yard on one side of their house. My grandmother loved gardening so that small hill was just covered with all sorts of brightly colored blooms. It was the kind of little hill a little girl would love to just simi-crawl up. I was strictly told that it was a place where little girls were never to play. I still loved that pretty little hill and it took a little time for me to notice that some vines on that hill had grown over a door.

When I asked my Grandpa about it, he said that it was a storm cellar. He explained it was a place to go in case a storm or tornado came into town. I knew about storms but not tornadoes. I learned again later that in the early 1900's a horrible tornado had swept through a part of our town that did terrible damage. After that many folks had put storm cellars in their yards. My grandparents had never used it so they used it to store foods my Grandma had canned at the end of the summer.

Thinking about what a refuge might be, I found it's basically a place of safety and security. It might make a family feel better to have a storm cellar if they lived in a tornado-prone area. It would serve well in times of needed physical security, but what about those times we are in need of spiritual or emotional security. We might like a storm cellar of such things but afraid there really isn't such a thing.

I remember just the chorus to a hymn we often sung years ago:

O Jesus is a rock in a weary land

A weary land, a weary land.

O Jesus is a rock in a weary land

A shelter in the time of storm.

No matter our need, when the storms of life come, we all need Someone, somewhere to flee to. We may have a special place of peace we love for when we read, pray and meditate. However, places often change. Friends may be wonderful in encouraging us when we are facing difficult times, but sometimes even friends change in place or attitudes. We have One sure place and Person to run to...our own storm shelter that never changes, open 24/7 and that takes the form of very loving arms, the hollow of a hand...even wings to hide under. There is no earthly storm shelter or refuge that can provide all of that. Only our Heavenly Father stands with open arms, real security the world will never be able to provide. He's our shelter and refuge in the time of any storm we face.

Dear Father, I'm so grateful for the salvation I enjoy because of Jesus but You have so many other things in store for us. Thank You for our live-in Holy Spirit who speaks to us through Your Word and through other godly ones. Thank You that I don't have to make an appointment to talk to You and enjoy Your presence any time I want. In Jesus' precious name...Amen