Louise Gevers

“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:1-2

Beautiful words of adoration and trust describing the psalmist’s sure knowledge that the LORD is his strength at all times start our reflection today. Where we turn to for refuge when we’re afraid, when things go wrong in our lives, or when we’re in need of help and support is very important.

Every day new stresses appear that we have to work through at home and in our world. We can become frustrated, angry and disillusioned when our best efforts are thwarted by things beyond our control. We battle with the unpredictability caused by power outages, faulty Wi-Fi, poor service and delivery, and unreliable transport; added to that is the confusion, suffering and fear that the coronavirus has brought.

We need to be able to feel the complete security and strength that David experienced in God as his refuge. He didn't know the worries of Wi-Fi, stock-piling or electricity in his time, but he still had to face daily fears and challenges. As a young boy tending his father’s sheep, he had very little other than a shepherd’s staff, sling and faith to equip him. This way he learnt to rely on God which prepared him for bigger things later. 

It was the hard challenges and frightening ordeals that grew David’s faith. Confronting a lion or a bear as it carried off one of the flockwas no mean feat, but he was left with the sure knowledge that it was,“The LORD who delivered (him) from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear.” (1 Samuel 17:37) Later, God also delivered him from the hand of Goliath, the Philistine giant. God was David’s champion but He can become our champion too. 

Each of us is, no doubt, at a different stage of our walk with God, but He knows us and cares about each one of us. He knew us from inside our mother’s womb. We may not have to literally face wild animals, but each day we face new challenges on all fronts – some just as fierce as wild animals in our own situation. Sometimes they can appear as giants to us, but never to God.

Let us look to Him in adoration and faith today to be our stronghold.

Prayer: Loving Father, thank You that You are our refuge and strength, and with us in trouble. Help us in these difficult times we live in to look to You to grow our faith through each trial, and to overcome, through Jesus’ Christ our Lord. Amen.