God is our Refuge!

God is our Refuge!

When I say that statement… what does that mean to you? What comes to mind?

First, we need to understand what a refuge is.

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Refuge - shelter or relief from danger or anxiety

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Refuge - a safe retreat, a place of healing and renewal, and a stronghold from which to launch a counterattack.

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WOW! I want to know God as my refuge in every area of my life!

But do we truly know God as our Refuge?

So, back in 2010 Kevin and I went on a mission trip to Kenya. The team had completed the mission of building a tabernacle and a women’s conference. We now had a couple days to see the beauty of Africa. We had the opportunity to go on a safari and on the way back to where we were staying our van got a flat tire. Unfortunately, we were well behind the rest of our team because we had a less experienced driver, and he got stuck in a large rut. The location where we had the flat tire was in a town near a marketplace. As soon as our driver pulled us over to the side of the road, we were surrounded by a crowd of people who knew “tourists” were in the van due to the type of vehicle we were in. Well, the driver jumped out and tried to get the crowd to back off and Kevin and Russ went in to overdrive trying to figure out a way to keep the four of us safe and Karolyn and I prayed fervently. I began praying Psalm 91.

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High     will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,     my God, in whom I trust.”

God literally gave us the opportunity to live this out.

Unfortunately, our inexperienced driver was very worried about losing his job, so he didn’t call for help from the other guides until I asked him to after he rushed around for about 15 minutes and realized that we already used the spare tire. But now we had to wait for the other guides to come all the way back. Then our driver decided that he would go see if he could find another tire or a place to repair the tire. However, when he left the location of our van, he left the back door wide open.

That’s when Psalm 91:3-4 became real to me.

3 Surely he will save you     from the fowler’s snare     and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers,     and under his wings you will find refuge;     his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

I saw our van under the wings of our heavenly Father. The LORD showed me that we were under His wings, I saw it in the Spirit. And then it was like people couldn’t see us… Massai men walked by with spears. Except for one small boy who came to the window and said “Jambo” in the sweetest voice. Jambo just means hello.

One thing I can tell you for certain, I know that God is my REFUGE, and I trust Him!

What areas in your life do you need to give to the LORD who is your REFUGE?

§ Let’s start with our physical security.

o Do you fear physical harm or death? I used to have a fear of being attacked even after I became a Christian. I had an irrational fear of walking alone in a dark parking lot and situations like that. It was more than just a heightened awareness, I wasn’t trusting God with my security. But through learning to dwell in His presence and abiding in Him along with the experience of God’s protection, I now ride along with police officers and have been in a few hairy situations and I was able to stay calm and trust God because I now feel secure in God’s protection. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to be a Law Enforcement Chaplain. I trust in the Most High and my confidence is in His security and protection. He has called me to this and He will keep my secure.

Ø Psalm 62:5-8

5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

o Your physical security may be an illness or a diagnosis, but I believe God is your Refuge! He is your strength! He is your hope! He is your stronghold!

o In Psalm 62, David confessed that his only hope was in God, that he trusted Him, that God was his strength, and he trusted in Him at all times! We can too!

Ø Psalm 46:1

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

§ Next, what about our mental and emotional health?

Ø Psalm 61:1-4

Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.

o How many of us need to take refuge in God by abiding in Him and not allowing the enemy to take ground in our thoughts and minds?

o Are we so intimate with Holy Spirit that we know when the lies of the enemy come in to kill, steal and destroy? Do we dwell in the shelter of the Most High?

o Please don’t take this as condemnation, but as an encouragement to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)

o About 10 years back, Kevin and I went through a VERY stressful time financially. I had gotten to the point where I thought we could lose everything, our business, our home, our security. Where would we live, how would we care for our sons, what would we do? The enemy was busy telling us that we were failures, that we were going to be able to feed our sons that we were going to lose everything.

o On our knees, we surrendered it all to God and learned that He is our security! We came to a point where we told God that we trusted Him and His plan for our lives and whatever happened we would praise Him. Through prayer and I believe our surrender, He miraculously turned things around in our business and little by little we got back on our feet.

o The most wonderful thing about trails is that they build our faith and perseverance! (James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Peter 1:3-9) We now have a new level of faith, not in ourselves but in God.

§ Family security – now this has been an ongoing process for me. Because I have seen death in many forms on chaplain calls, at times I have had an irrational fear for my family’s safety and health. Thankfully, I have a sister in Christ who is a licensed medical health therapist that has taken time to listen and be there for me to talk through (process) the secondary trauma that I have experienced. She has helped me with “tools” to speak the truth of God’s word over my family and not to believe the lies of the enemy.

Ø Proverbs 14:26 says 26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.

§ When we truly know God as our Refuge, He then calls us to be a refuge for others.

As a Christian, being a "refuge" to others means that we become a source of safety, comfort, and support to others, especially during times of adversity or suffering. Similar to how God is a refuge for us as believers. Christians are called to extend the same compassion and care they receive from God to those around them who may be struggling.

Ø 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

(5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.)

I believe Harvest Church is a refuge for many. A safe place for people to come to find hope and practical support.

Compassionate action:

This means Christians should actively reach out to those in need, offering practical support like food, shelter, or emotional support, demonstrating the love of Christ through their actions.

Community of support:

The Christian community itself can act as a refuge, providing a network of people who can offer encouragement, prayer, and fellowship during difficult times.

Open arms and acceptance:

Just as God welcomes all people regardless of their past, Christians are called to extend the same open-hearted acceptance to others seeking refuge.

So, I have two questions for you…

1. What areas in your life do you need to know God as your Refuge and trust Him for your security?

2. How can you be a refuge to someone else?