Where Is Your Refuge?

Do you have a place to hide? Where do you go when you are down, in need of someone to listen, depressed, hurt, angry or lonely? In other words when life gets really crumby where do you go? Do you run to drugs, alcohol, pornography, shopping, throwing a pity party, etc? Where do you go to escape? Do you have a place to hide? King David found the perfect place. “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:114. The song of old asked the question "Where can I go but to the Lord?" I can hide in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91). To be in the shadow implies closeness. Psalm 90 says "The Lord is our dwelling place from all generations." The birds have nests the fox have dens and we as God's children have Him. Jesus said He is the Vine and we are the branches, if we abide in Him we shall bear much fruit. Again the theme of closeness and dependency comes to the forefront. A teenage girl learned a lesson through babysitting. She was babysitting a young boy, 8 o'clock PM came around and it was bed time. He, like most young boys didn't want to go to bed. She picked him up and she said "He was as stiff as a board." She said "It's hard to hug a stiff kid." The next day she baby sat a young girl. This young girls parents were going out of town for the day, the teenage girl ran to their house right after the morning church service was over. The mother of this young girl apologized, and said their little daughter was in the back yard playing in a mud puddle. Clean clothes were laid out and the parents left. The little girl really loved her teenage babysitter, and when she saw this young woman, dressed in her Sunday finest, she ran to her with open arms and threw her arms around her. Now two young ladies had to change their clothes. The teenager said "It's a lot easier to hug a dirty kid than a still kid." So it is with God, it's easier for Him to deal with our sin than for Him to deal with our stiffness. Stiff Christians don't hang around with God, they are self sufficient. So where do you go when you are in need? Stiffness is a defense mechanism you don't need. Surrender to the Lord and hide in Him. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, seminars and local church meetings.