“Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Psalm 142:4-5
I spent the weekend building fence, trimming trees, and cleaning up the garden. The beautiful fall skies of southern Idaho enticed me out from the confines of the indoors and the fresh air propelled me into puttering exhaustion without scarcely breaking a sweat. These wonderful fall days can make one forget about the winter that is a few flips of the calendar away.
I remember standing before our front window, warm cup of coffee in hand, marveling at the biting wind driving snow across the landscape that I am now manicuring. I am always so thankful for the refuge of a warm home when the storms are raging outside.
It is easy to diminish the value of our refuge when the weather is fair.
Equally, we can forget about our refuge while we walk through a fair weather season in our lives. Those time when we feel valued and honored; when we are loved and nurtured; when the future appears secure and our health robust; when our souls abound in the joy of a new day.
I typically ask, “why God”, as I seek his refuge when a storm is raging in my life. I often do not ask that same question when I am enjoying a period of fair weather. I have a mindless concept that a refuge is needed only in times when the elements are raging.
English: Refuge Tower of the castle of Porrentruy, canton of Jura, Switzerland Esperanto: Rifuĝturo de Porrentruy, Kantono Ĵuraso, Svislando Deutsch: Fluchtturms des Schlosses von Pruntrut, Kanton Jura, Schweiz (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
However, when don’t I need refuge?
A perpetual tempest rages all around us. Someday, the unknown grace and mercy of our Father will astound us when we realize the unseen storms that He has sheltered us from. The reality that the seasons of fair weather are actually blooming from the grace of refuge that is continually being shown to those who are His.
Someday, our praise and worship will be heightened when we understand how He protected us through the most painful of storms. We are not washed from the sure foundation of Christ by our own clinging efforts. It is the refuge of our Lord that holds us firmly against the enemies of our soul.
He is our refuge while the storm rages.
He is our refuge while the sun shines.
He is our refuge in all seasons.
May our hearts rejoice in all seasons, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
PRAYER: Lord, I will praise You in the storm. I will praise You on the sunny days. I will praise You during the labors of work and I will praise You in the joys of harvest. Father, forgive my fickle nature of seeking You in times of trouble and relying upon my strength in times of ease. Open my eyes to the grace and mercy that You are showing me today and every day. Thank you for being my faithful refuge in all of the seasons of my life. I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A DEVOTED LIFE 