It seems as though each day we’re confronted with one horrifying tragedy after another. We turn on the TV, radio or scroll down the newsfeeds on our phones and there it is, another unarmed black man shot dead by the police; another “lone wolf” terrorist wreaking devastation; another humanitarian crisis.
All these dire events deserve our attention. But sometimes a constant stream of bleak headlines and mobilizing ourselves to counter the seemingly increasing occurrence of bad things in this world can leave us feeling exhausted and hopeless.
Tragic events in our personal lives or those that prompt a global response leave many people asking not just “What can I do?” but also “Where can I go?” Essentially, such situations force us into a fight or flight mode. When our own lives and those of the ones we love are endangered, then flight becomes a very attractive option.
But, no matter where we take flight to, we’ll always be faced with the danger of coming under attack. Whether these attacks take an earthly or spiritual form, they can both be life-threatening.
The only place we can find complete and lasting refuge is with the Lord. The shelter that He provides extends far beyond the physical. Regardless of what’s going on around us, we can still find shelter with Him at all times.
In reality, the fight or flight concept isn’t as arbitrary as it’s commonly set out to be. The appropriate Christian response to physical and spiritual threats could be more aptly described as fight and flight because we’re called to be committed to defending ourselves and those in need. But at the same time, we can still find refuge in the Lord.
You might be thinking: “Where can I go?” as you attempt to pin down a location where you’ll feel safe when in reality you need to go to someone who will make you feel safe, and that someone is God.
Here are seven Bible verses on how God provides us shelter amid the storms of our lives.
Psalm 62:8 – “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
Psalm 119:114 – “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”
Psalm 46:1-2 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
Lamentations 3:57-58 – “You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’ You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.”
Isaiah 25:4 – “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.”
Ecclesiastes 7:12-14 – “Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.”
Psalm 61:3-5 – “For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.”