Question 1

Why is having a refuge important?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 4:8In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.Isaiah 4:6It [the Lord’s shade] will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.We need a refuge because we are vulnerable on our own and unable to protect ourselves. Threats to our safety are not limited to the physical realm. Our mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing can also be under attack. We all need a divine refuge.Psalm 62:8O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.We need a refuge with God for our emotional well-being. There we can pour out our hearts to him, praying about our deepest feelings, thoughts, dreams, and concerns.Psalm 31:19-20How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.We need a refuge with God to keep us safe from conspirators and accusers and the emotional damage they can cause. God loves and accepts us regardless of what others say, and that is enough.Romans 8:35-39Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.With God as our refuge, no matter where we are or what happens to us, we can never be lost to his love.

Question 2

How do I make God my refuge?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 18:10The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.We make God our refuge by running to him in times of trouble. Taking refuge in God means trusting him instead of ourselves and our own ingenuity and strength. We pray and surrender our failures and fears to him.Psalm 34:4-10I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Dependent and even desperate prayer is the key. We make God our refuge by continually committing our lives and concerns to him, allowing him to show us the path to take and then following his lead.

Question 3

What happens when I trust in God as my refuge?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 18:30God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.Psalm 91:1-2Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. his I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.When we trust in God as our refuge, we find safety and we feel safe. This does not mean that he keeps us completely clear of pain and suffering, but we can know that regardless of what happens to us, we are eternally secure in his loving arms.Psalm 46:1-3God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!When we trust in God as our refuge, we can be fearless. Knowing that God is in control and that we are secure in him gives us courage to face whatever life brings.Isaiah 25:4-5You are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign nations. As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled.When we trust in God as our refuge, we can be calm when people come against us.

Refuge