PSALM 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

TO PONDER:

The above words describe God to a tee.  He is our strength and refuge – a reliable shelter, a safe place and a source of power, ready to walk along side of us to help us in our troubles.  He is always there, he never leaves us.  Sometimes, when we try to do things in our own strength, we don’t succeed. 

He IS our strength and helper – our protector and a source of spiritual strength, a helper always available when we call on Him.  He IS our safety in the midst of fear.

I again found out how true these words were when I had a short time in India in a place called Nagpur to see the work that was happening there.  The locals referred to it as the centre of India. It’s only about a one-hour 40minute flight from New Delhi.  Just a few hiccups I faced – being the only “white”  passenger on the plane, the ground crew decided to do a body search in the open, no one there to meet me, booking into my hotel asking for the first two and a half days if anyone had enquired if I was there, a riot out in the front of the hotel for a couple of hours and told to stay in my room, and ending up with a stomach problem.  Naturally fear and doubt started to creep in and the questions began!  Why Lord, what is going on?  What are you teaching me?

The answer to these “hiccups” came to me.  I knew God had it all in hand, I knew that he wanted me to trust in him, to know that he was my refuge and strength, and also that very present help in trouble.  I believe that He was protecting me during that whole visit.  I just needed to listen to that still small voice and remember that God was on my side and he just wanted me to lean and rely on Him.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father.  There is so much to be grateful for in a journey with you Lord.  You have been my safe place, my refuge, my strength and a very present help in times of fear and trouble.  Thank you that you’ve calmed my anxieties and filled me with peace.  I pray Lord that I can surrender my fears and worries to you always.  I prayer that all those that come to know you will realise that all they need is trust in you, knowing that YOU are their safe place. AMEN

Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock, LifeWay Online