Word of Encouragement (01/10/2024)

"For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? ³³ This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. (2 Sam. 22:32-33)

David was delighted to call God his refuge. Here, he describes God as “my strong refuge.” Was this a sign of weakness? Are we to envision David crawling back to God for refuge because he was so pathetic? If anyone thinks this way, it is because he does not see the kind of adversities David had to face. Most of us don’t feel much need to seek refuge because we have our homes. Because we are so used to having a living space, we don’t see its function as our daily refuge. But when we have a heavy storm or a heat wave or a cold spell, we appreciate the protection our homes offer. Especially when we happen to be outside driving in the rain and see the homeless, we feel for them and humbly count our blessings.

Also, from time to time, we hear the news of natural disasters and the tens of thousands of people displaced as a result. We cannot imagine what it must be like to lose everything in the blink of an eye and suddenly have no place to go. So, when various NGOs and government organizations provide shelter, how grateful they must be! Because of the civilization we have developed, we manage to live in relative safety from the dangers of nature. But there are still disasters of epic proportions, from which our civilization cannot protect us. It is humbling to see how powerless and helpless we are.

We may laugh at the idea of the need for a refuge until all our self-confidence is demolished by overwhelming adversity. If David relished God as his strong refuge, it was not because he was a pathetic weakling; rather, it was because the troubles he faced were much too great for him to handle on his own. There are troubles we can readily handle. But some are so great that we don’t have time or energy to scold ourselves for not being able to manage it; we are just glad that there is a refuge for us. Throughout his life, David had many such moments, and he could not be but grateful and glad that God was his strong refuge.

God is glad to be your strong refuge, too. He knows our frame and He remembers that we are but dust (Ps. 103:14). He is merciful and compassionate. He does not reject anyone who comes to Him for refuge, especially those who come in the name of Jesus Christ. Thankfully, most of us don’t need physical shelter to weather through a natural disaster. But natural disasters are not the only adversities we face in life. There are other afflictions—physical, interpersonal, financial, etc.—that expose our frailty and insignificance. Even for such things, God can provide a strong refuge for us. His presence can envelop us and protect us amid our troubles—not by keeping them away all the time but by removing their sting even when they hit us because Jesus removed the sting of our suffering and death by His death and resurrection. We don’t have to try so hard to prove ourselves strong. God knows we are but dust. Find your strong refuge in Him.