March 5: A refuge in times of trouble

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble.  (Psalm 9:9-12  NET)

King David was a warrior who spent much of his time outdoors planning and fighting battles, and throughout his writings he uses images from nature to describe God’s care and protection. In this passage he speaks about God being a refuge: an inaccessibly high and secure place. David had experienced this for himself many, many times. He had fought impossible odds, and found himself in situations that most people would not have be able to escape from. From experience he knew that he needed much more than a mountain fortress or cave to keep him safe, he needed God Himself. But as he states here, this is a characteristic of God Himself; He knew that just like God took care of him when he was oppressed, God would take care of us too.

Many people have heard about God, have attended church now and again, and have prayed when they were in trouble, but this does not mean that they “know” God’s name. When a person “knows” God’s name, he is convinced about His faithfulness and proves that his trust is in Him by his actions and the choices he makes. When we “know” God we have a deep conviction about how he has never, and will never forsake those who seek Him.

If you have been tempted to doubt God, or to blame Him for the troubles in your life… stop the despair, hopelessness, and fear right away! Don’t surrender to the demonic thoughts swirling around in your head—don’t give in to the devil. Today’s passage, and other similar passages, should be what you choose to fill your mind with, because only thoughts like this will fill us with hope and courage. Millions of people could have written today’s passage as a testimony to what happened in their lives, and what God has done for others, He wants to do for you.