“With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’ Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.” (v1-7)
Where is our hope and security found? Where is our identity rooted? Do we rely on our money? Our possessions? Our friends? Our career? Our family? Where is our safe-house and refuge – that place we can retreat when the world is against us or when we’re vulnerable? Where can we go?
David realizes that there isn’t any real safe place in this world – there are traps and those who would trap him, with no remaining refuge or place of rest. This has only gotten worse in the current age of information and media – there literally isn’t anywhere to hide when the world shares gossip and news at the speed of light, 24/7, and everything digital transaction is on permanent record. There is no refuge, no reprieve, and virtually no privacy.
Sometimes it can feel like the whole world is watching us – where can we turn when we need that safe place of rest and refuge? David turns to the one place he knows of – God’s loving arms. David cries out to God, the one true source of safety and refuge. In Him we can find total trust, security, privacy, rest, and healing. We can’t find that anywhere else in this world (though there are righteous brothers and sisters in Christ who come in a very close second). Our prayers to God can remain safely anonymous, and God will never gossip about us, despite the fact He knows our deepest secrets.
My challenge for us today is to use our disappointments in life (eg. someone breaks their word or we lose some money on a bad investment) to point us toward God. We can trust that God will not disappoint us, and He will never fail us. We may not always understand why He allows us to face a difficult time or how He chooses to answer prayers, yet our understanding is not necessary in order for us to trust in Him.
Father God, when we rely on the things and people of this world, sooner or later we will be disappointed. Yet, when we fully surrender to You, we know You will never fail us. You promise to never leave or forsake us as long as we do not turn our backs on You. Please help us to seek you above all others and all other material things. Please help us to put our faith and trust in You alone. Please help us to be Yours forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training