This is day 18 in a month-long series. You can catch up on previous posts here.
Last night as I was putzing around before bed, I was thinking about times in life when we really crave a refuge. One thing that came to mind is uncertainty.
How is God a refuge when life feels uncertain?
Good Christian answers come quickly to my mind, Well, God is trustworthy. God loves me and won't forsake me. God holds the future in His hands, so I don't need to worry. And so on.
Many of you know all of those things. I do, too. But resting and taking refuge in those truths can be so challenging when we feel the pinch of uncertainty: Will I get the job? Will my baby be born healthy? Will I be healed of this disease? Will I be able to provide for my family? Will we find a place to live we can afford? Will I get into the college of my choice? Will my kids turn out 'okay'?
We all know some of those questions, don't we? We are familiar with the uneasiness that settles into our minds and hearts as we await answers. It is hard for our sinful natures to run to the refuge and actually take refuge in the midst of uncertainty.
But we must! Must!!
God our Refuge is our only hope for comfort and security in uncertainty. We can learn to run to Him, combating tendencies to worry and fear with confidence in our Refuge.
Three Ways to Run to the Refuge in Uncertainty
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 5:31-34
In uncertainty, run to the refuge by remembering how able God is to provide for your needs.
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5
In uncertainty, run to the refuge by remembering how God has provided for your needs.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11
In uncertainty, run to the refuge by asking for all that you need.
Running to the Refuge requires that we move! We must hurry our minds to truth about who God is and what He is able to do. We must remember His love by reflecting on His track record of care for us. We must ask the Lord for what we need, and leave the responsibility to Him.
Uncertainty can strangle us in its grip of worry and fear. Our Refuge frees us from our captor, because He loves us, won't leave us or forsake us, and He holds the future in His omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, not to mention, big and strong, hands!
Running Orders:
- I imagine some things came to mind as you were reading this. Now, take those thoughts captive by reading the passages above and intentionally running to the refuge with all of your uncertainty.
- Memorize Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
You not only have a refuge, you are loved by your Refuge.
Walk in His way today!
No comments:
Post a Comment