One of the things that first fascinated Anna and me about Minnesota when we moved here from Colorado were the thunderstorms. Growing up in rarified mountain air, neither of us witnessed electrical light shows of the magnitude made possible in a more humid climate. We loved to turn off all the lights, sit by the window sill, and stare in awe as the night sky flashed, crackled and popped. Outside was a tempest of driving rain, wind, and mega-charged bolts of lightning. Inside was warmth, fellowship and shelter. We were safe in our refuge.
When a severe weather alert warns of a life-threatening storm, you are advised to take refuge in an appropriate shelter. Naturally, when you enter a shelter, you do so completely and close the door behind you. You don’t hang out the window or dart in and out. To do so would not be taking the storm seriously. And so it is with God. He is our refuge. When our hearts are pummeled by a storm, we can enter His place of refuge completely. We can trust Him to take us in. We can pour out our hearts to Him. He designed us to find our best shelter in Him – at all times, not just during life’s storms.
Your thoughts? How can you enter more fully into God’s place of refuge today?
My wife and I were with 3 other couples camping in the BWCA wilderness several lakes and miles by canoe when the 2000 straight line winds hit.
We thought it was a tornado as huge trees were snapping off and flying 30 – 40 yards before crashing in piles. I remember the chaos, loudness, and limited visibility during the storm. I remember thinking “there is no place safe” in this storm.,Though our campsite was a total disaster, we survived the storm along with our canoes that we had wedged between big boulders as they were trying to fly away.
The phrase “God is our refuge” has tremendous depth for my wife and I.
Wow! I’ll bet it does after that. Thanks for sharing, Gary!