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, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)

Seeds of Courage is a CD I picked up at a garage sale when my oldest son was still an infant, and we played it over and over, and yes, over again. It’s filled with Bible verses sung by a choral group of both adults and children. This verse set is included and aptly named, Refuge and Strength. You can find it on Spotify, track 11. It’s catchy.

Refuge is given, a gift. It’s a state of relief, of help. Refuge sounds like courage, and it’s necessary because courage is not our default human state. The Bible reminds us – many, many times – to not fear. To take heart. To know that God is God, whether we’re shepherds, prophets, or modern-day Christians.

The world is shaky, full of false promises and fix-it-quick schemes. Instant gratification pushes worries to later in the day or week. Even other work displaces what needs to be done now, but is scary. Only God is true refuge from our worries and earthly true concerns.

So take heart. And nail-pierced hands, a pierced side. Hope in God’s promises and strength from His refuge. He formed the heart of that sea, those mountains.
Join us at church this week. Then next.

Prayer

Lord, let us seek You as a refuge from all that is painful, false, difficult, and untrue. In You I put my trust. Let me seek Your face and never be ashamed.

Daily Reading: Psalm 119:161-176

– Contributed by Heather Noggle