Finding Refuge In God During Times of Hardship

 “In order to find security in God, we have to stop finding security in everything else. …Nothing in this world will offer you the security you have in God.”

Last week on #EmilysPinkPosts I shared with you the first of three verses that have helped me through this last month.  The first was Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid I will trust in You.”  This verse reminds us that anytime we are having a situation we can’t control and fear tries to grip us that if we put our total trust in God He will see us through no matter what we are facing.  Once we trust put our trust in God what do we do next?  

In those troubling times God gives us life giving words that can be found in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  Trouble shows itself in many forms - illness, financial hardship, relationships, loss of a loved one and much more.  When troubles come our way they in a sense threaten us, they leave us feeling vulnerable to the unknown and they leave us feeling empty and helpless.  But I have good news!  God is our refuge and we can run to Him and He will shelter us from the storm.  He is our protector and He is always there to help us.  He gives us strength when we are weak and at our lowest point.  This verse reminds us that when we run to God for that refuge we don’t need to fear.  

The Hebrew word for refuge is chacah and means “to flee for protection, to confide in, to put one’s trust in.” The dictionary defines a refuge as a shelter or protection from danger, trouble, or to take refuge from a storm. It’s a place of safety, or anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape.  

There are three distinct practical ways that God is our refuge.

1.  We find refuge when we go to the Father in n prayer.  God is a Person in which to confide our troubles.  He wants us to cry out to Him and share with Him our fears, what’s causing our anxiety, stress or worry.  He wants us to be totally honest and share exactly what we are thinking and what we are going through.   Psalm 142:2 says, “I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.”  and Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears and recuses them from all their troubles.”  

2.  We find refuge when we commit ourselves to obeying the Word of God no matter what the cost.  God’s Word is a Place of protection and safety when we find ourselves in trouble and it’s true the place we must run to in times of trouble. God truly becomes our refuge we we trust His Word more than we trust what the world says or what even our own feelings are saying.  God’s Word is the only place we will find security and protection because it truly is the only source of truth.  Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”  

3.  We find refuge when we depend one the Spirit of God to lead us, empower us and sustain us through every trial or hardship we go through.  God’s Spirit provides the Power to sustain us through our troubles and He has provided a way for Him to be with us and that’s through His Spirit.  Jesus knew we need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us.  He promised His disciples that after He returned to the Father, that He would send us the One who is that very present helper.  We find refuge when we depend on the Spirit of God to lead us, empower us, and sustain us through whatever we are going through.

When you walk with God on a daily basis and commune with Him daily we truly can feel more confident when we face problems or hardship or trials.  He will give us what we need to endure any hardship we face here on earth.  We hen we believe in God and truly believe He is our refuge and strength we can face even the most dangerous or difficult situations with total confidence because God is with us.