God Is Our Refuge

“…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” ESV Psalm 46:1

Many of you know that next to riding my bicycle there are few activities that I enjoy more than hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness area of the Bankhead National Forest. Every time I go I am simply awestruck at God’s magnificent creation. Occasionally though, I am reminded that the Sipsey is indeed a wilderness.

Last winter, six of us (2 adults and 4 children) set out on a two day, eleven mile hike to the famed “big tree” and back. It’s a hike that can be accomplished in a single day, but it’s much more pleasurable at an overnight pace. There is a short cut, but of course that would take the fun out of it. Anyway, the first half of the hike is relatively easy, but the terrain and degree of difficulty go up substantially in the last two miles. So, roughly 4 miles in is where we typically drop our packs, make camp and relax for the evening.

Now, I don’t know what you know about primitive camping, but when you are 4 miles into the Sipsey, you are far removed from home, cell phone service, the safety of your car, etc. You are also 4 miles from any artificial light that you didn’t pack in and it gets really dark out there!

On this particular trip after we had quieted down, satisfied our appetites and settled in next to our fire, there was action in the darkness. Quiet unexpectedly; an owl hooted followed by what can only be described as the cry, no, the scream, of a bobcat. Both sounds came from about 30 yards up the trail from our camp. Now the owl was innocuous enough, but the bobcat… Suffice it to say that the bobcat scream was a hair raising experience; even for a seasoned camper.

The effect on the children was immediate and profound. Confidence in our camp was replaced by fear of things lurking in the dark; noisy, vicious things with unknown intentions. In the twinkling of an eye my confident, competitive, independent teenager was transformed into “daddy’s little girl.” And daddy’s little girl sought security and safety in daddy’s arms for the better part of the evening.

As any father would, I took her into the safety of my arms and offered all the comfort I could. I was her refuge. And I was glad to do it. Come to think of it, it was an enjoyable experience from my perspective. As our children mature and become independent those special moments seem to become infrequent and I cherish them all.

Do you suppose that it’s any different with our heavenly Father? No. If anything our heavenly Father desires even more to be our refuge and our strength. In fact, He desires that we rely entirely on Him and not on our own efforts and understanding in all areas of our lives. Regardless of your circumstances; regardless of your fears; regardless of the unknown dangers lurking in the dark; our heavenly Father desires to be your refuge, strength and very present help in your time of trouble. Why not call on Him today and rest in the safety of His arms?