Verse: Psalm 61:1-4
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Devotion
A few years ago, my friend was on a business trip and during his meetings there was a tornado warning issued. He was in a midwestern state so the threat was real, and they immediately were ordered to take refuge. They all huddled into a cement stairwell and waited out the storm.
That story is an imperfect image of what it means to “take refuge” in our God. David, the one who wrote this song, is on the run for his life. He is being hunted (most scholars believe) by his son Absalom. In this moment he is not only looking for physical refuge, but his heart is also broken. He is looking for spiritual and emotional refuge.
This is the glory of God’s relationship with his people. He offers each of us a continual place of refuge in Jesus. David was in the wilderness crying out to God to be his refuge. Jesus went to the wilderness, and conquered Satan’s temptations, finding ultimate refuge in the presence of God. When we go to the “wilderness” in our lives, Jesus meets us there with his victory, love, grace and comfort.
Our first instinct is often to power through, to figure it out on our own, to make a way with our own strength. But before doing all that, what if our first instinct was to cry out to God? “God I need your help! God I need your comfort. God I run to you as my refuge.” Trust him with your pain, and your fear, and your worry. He is a strong tower against all that comes against you. He will lift you up, strengthen you, and deliver you. Find refuge, today, in your God!
Author: Christian Dunn
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