Refuge

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah — Psalm 62:5-8

Where do you turn when things are tough? Where are you looking for answers? 

David shares his heart with us in Psalm 62. This Psalm has helped and encouraged me through these past few months, and especially again this week. 

David wrote this Psalm as he faced great conflict and turmoil. Difficult times and situations reveal who we are truly relying on. While people were attacking David, he waited on the Lord. The Lord is our salvation and our strength. He is not meant to be a part of our salvation or strength, God alone is our salvation. Too often we trust and rely on ourselves rather than on God. We say that He is our rock, but our lives show that we are trusting in ourselves or someone else. Don’t get me wrong: God uses people to provide relief, help, strength, and encouragement, but He is the source. Our confidence is in Him and Him alone. He is our rock and our fortress. He is the One who provides safety and security. This is why David says that he will not be shaken. It’s not because he is confident in his own strength or power. God is our rock; He is our foundation. This is why, like David, we do not have to be shaken. Even in the midst of storms and deep water, we can remain grounded. The Lord gives us peace in the midst of uncertainty. Solomon came to understand the same truth. 

When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. — Proverbs 10:25

Trust Him at all times. This is an easy truth to say, but it is not as easy to live out. The night of the massive thunderstorm, I was counseling a man in the jail who was struggling to understand why unjust things were happening to him. I told him how God brings us through difficult things to help us grow in our faith. He allows hard situations so that we can testify to others about His love. Little did I know that the very same night our sump pump would stop working and we would wake up with water in our basement. It was a reminder that I too need to trust in the Lord at all times. 

The next phrase is what has been a comfort to me: “pour out your hearts before Him.” We need to be honest before Him; don’t hide your fears and struggles. Pour it out before Him, and let Him work. He will provide. Not always in the way that we think. He is our refuge. Regardless of what is going on, we are safe in Him.

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. — Psalm 62:11-12a