God is Our Refuge

As I was discerning the passage for this week’s devotional, I felt God pulling me away from Acts and toward Psalm 57.

This psalm has been on my heart over the past few months, particularly as I’ve faced unknowns and entered new situations. Let’s read through this passage and ask God how He’s speaking to us today.

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.

Psalm 57:1

This passage makes me imagine a warm, feathery bird wrapping its wings around little chicks in a thunderstorm. Together, they huddle in a little cave, kept safe by the parent bird’s wings. On their own, the little chicks wouldn’t be able to protect themselves in the storm. They would get all damp, cold, and muddy–they might even get swept away. But it’s within their parent’s nature to hold them close and keep them warm.

It’s within God’s nature to hold us close to His heart. Sometimes this means providing us comfort and rest. Other times, God sets us free to try out our own wings, but even then He is with us. He never lets us fly out of His loving sight.

How might you want to experience God’s refuge this week?

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
³ He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

Psalm 57:2-3

When we experience injustice, regardless of its magnitude, our natural instinct is to take matters into our own hands. But because we are broken people, we will never be able to handle situations perfectly on our own. When we rely on God to help us handle difficult situations, we will feel strengthened by His love and faithfulness.

What is a difficult situation you’re currently experiencing? How is God leading you to respond to it?

I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

They spread a net for my feet—
    I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.

Psalm 57:4,6

I’m not sure about you, but the most “ravenous beast” in my life is my growling dog guarding his treat. However, there can be metaphorical lions and beasts in our lives that cause us suffering.

For example, perhaps you have a difficult person in your life whose words have pierced you like sharp swords. Or maybe you’re facing a problem that feels as ginormous as a ravenous beast.

No matter what you are struggling with, God is bigger than it. Your burdens are too heavy for you to carry alone, but they will never be too much for God.

What is a burden that you’ve been reluctant to give to God?

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
⁸ Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.

Psalm 57:7-8

Having a heart that’s steadfast means even when our circumstances aren’t ideal or our faith isn’t as fiery as in past seasons, we are still devoted to God. Often, the reason why we don’t feel as close to God isn’t because He’s gone anywhere, but because we haven’t taken the time to praise Him.

When our faith is reliant on God’s character rather than our shifting emotions and circumstances, we won’t fear losing our faith because it is grounded in what always stays the same: God.

Go through the alphabet and list out at least one corresponding characteristic of God for each letter. As a bonus, think of specific instances when you’ve witnessed God revealing that characteristic in your life or in the Bible.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57:9-11

When we step back and realize what an extraordinary God we serve, everything else falls into perspective.

Yes, there are frustrating, even harmful people, out there. Yes, the world is broken. Yes, we might be in the middle of a storm right now. There are so many difficult things in the world, things to be afraid of.

Except that the most powerful being in the universe loves us and has given us a purpose. He hasn’t abandoned us. He is here even now, wherever you are, listening patiently and ready to guide you on your life path.

We can be faithful to God by obeying His commands and asking for forgiveness when we make mistakes. We can obey God by transforming each day to become more and like Jesus through loving others, living out His truth, and cultivating the fruits of the Spirit.

Thankfully, our faith doesn’t rely on whether or not we do things perfectly. God’s faithfulness is perfect, and through it all, He is our refuge.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

Here is a wonderful worship song based on Psalm 57!