By F. D. Adkins
The other morning, I woke up to a steady rain that continued most of the day. As I worked in the kitchen, I noticed a cat curled up on the couch on our back porch. I walked over and looked at it through the French door window. For a brief moment, it peered back at me, then stretched out and went to sleep. I had no idea who the cat belonged to, but at the time, it seemed to need a dry place to rest. The cat slept for several hours, and then, when the rain stopped, it stepped off the porch and disappeared into the woods. The thick trees behind our house are home to many animals, most of which we never know are there because God has gifted each of them their own way of blending in to stay safe. In addition, the trees shelter them from the heavy rain and shade from the heat. The forest is their refuge.
This week, my verses to commit to memory were Psalm 91:1-2. The strange thing is, when I chose these verses to memorize, I did not realize how much these words would help me get through the week. That said, I am sure it was no coincidence that I chose this scripture to memorize at this specific time.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 KJV
Friends, we all need a refuge, a place to curl up, feel safe, and know we are not alone. I am not talking about a physical structure. I am referring to a place where our hearts and souls are at peace, where we feel joy despite the circumstances, where we lift our hands and let go of the worry. As I knelt in prayer this past week, I found myself letting the words of Psalm 91:1 wash over me. And then, I repeated Psalm 91:2 aloud claiming its Truth. “…He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2 KJV).
What peace and assurance comes from knowing we are under the shadow of the Almighty! What a blessing to know that under His shadow, we can rest safe and secure! Our circumstances during this life will constantly change, and the valleys may outnumber the mountaintops. But if we know Christ, we can find rest and joy in the refuge of our God, having the assurance that this life is only a temporary stop because the battle has already been won. Our permanent mountaintop awaits.
Let’s arm ourselves with His Truth. Let’s claim the words together…,
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.”
Psalm 91:2 KJV
Sometimes life can get so difficult. You just feel like you can do anymore. When you get old and with sickness, you look around and see so many things that need doing. But you aren”t able anymore. God looks down on you and wraps His loving arms around you. The peace you feel there you just can’t find anywhere else. The same for animals & people, He takes care of us under His shadow.