Here is a devotion to start your day!
A spoken version of this devotion is available through the Still, Here audio reflections podcast.
Scripture: Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Reflection
When storms arrive, our instinct is to look for escape.
But the psalmist describes something deeper.
God is not only the one who calms the storm. He is the refuge within it.
A refuge is a place where the winds may still blow outside, but inside there is safety. Inside there is stillness. Inside there is room to breathe.
Many of us spend our lives trying to control circumstances that cannot be controlled.
The psalm invites us to do something different.
Instead of controlling the storm, we enter the refuge. And that refuge is not a place we build for ourselves. It is the presence of God.
When we begin to trust that presence, something inside us settles.
The ground beneath our feet becomes steady again.
Prayer of Presence
Faithful God,
You are closer than the troubles that surround me. Help me step into the refuge of Your presence today. Let Your nearness quiet my anxious thoughts and steady my heart. – Amen
Consider This…
How might it change my perspective if I looked for God’s refuge within my challenges rather than escape from them?
Carry This Prayer With You
Breathe in: God is my refuge…
Breathe out: … I am safe in Him
Pastoral Affirmation
God is your refuge even the midst of the storm.
His presence steadies your heart.
You are safe within His care.
This work is freely shared. If it nourishes your life with God, you’re welcome to help sustain it.