Taking Refuge

Psalm 57:1 says, “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”

David wrote Psalm 57 while he was in a cave, playing the deadliest game of hide and seek. David was doing the hiding and Saul, who wanted to take David’s life, was doing the seeking. David was in the cave scared, confused, uncertain if he would survive to see another day. It was in those moments of fear that he realized his need to run to the shadow of God’s wings, because there he would find refuge. Re-read Psalm 57:1 with that context in mind. Pretty powerful, right?

When my daughter, Juliette, was a toddler, there was a severe storm with loud thunder and bright lightning. The storm startled Juliette so much that she jumped up from the toys she was playing with and ran in my direction. As she sprinted towards me, she said, “I want to take refuge in your arms until the thunder stops.” I guess not quite in those words; she was just a toddler. It was closer to, “Daddy, help me!” Juliette understood the storm was happening all around her and it left her scared. But as soon as she ran into her daddy’s arms, she felt comforted. She felt safe. The storm was still going on, but she trusted that I would take care of her until it stopped.

Through the storm of mental illness or a dangerous game of hide and seek, you can take refuge in the arms of God. You can run to God to find the peace and comfort that you so desperately desire. Fear, confusion, uncertainty will try to call the shots, but they do not have to loom over your life. You can make the choice to override those emotions and look to God. Refuge can be found in Him, whether the storm lasts a season or for the rest of your life.