God Is Our Refuge

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
Psalm 46:1–2

Right after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I memorized Psalm 46. With anxiety and fear ravaging my mind, I needed to re-focus my thinking. Every day, leading up to surgery, I walked and repeated the psalm. Those words stayed engraved on my heart and mind. Even now, twenty years later, whenever crisis hits, my mind instantly goes back to Psalm 46. It is a psalm of holy confidence.

“We don’t have to be controlled by fear.”

God Himself is your refuge. A refuge is a place of shelter and safety. When troubles or trials assault, sending your heart into panic, run to God. Nestle down in His presence as you would a storm cellar during a tornado. He is your all-sufficient strength, your confidence in the face of fear. He is the ever-present One. Ah, I love those words. They still bring peace to my soul. God never withdraws Himself from those who are afflicted, anxious, or alarmed. He is closer than your closest friend and more loyal than the most ardent lover. Therefore, you don’t have to yield to fear.

Fear can signal danger and help you make wise decisions. But we don’t have to be controlled by fear. This is where we learn to “be still and know” that He is God (Ps. 46:10). In the moments when we feel fearful, we can shift our thinking to the Almighty One who is our ever-present help. As we focus on making Him our shelter, He will slow our anxious thoughts and bring us to a place of stillness.