Refuge in the Rock, Part II By: Eddie Gibbs

Practical devotional thoughts written by Eddie Gibbs, Atherton Resident since 2011

Psalm 18:1-2
I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Questions for reflection:

• Reflect on all the ways God has been your safe place throughout life’s journey.
• Is there an area of your life where you need God’s peace to be your strength?

Thought for today: 

This passage has special significance for me, for it sparks vivid memories each time I read it. It takes me back to my childhood in Nottingham, England, a city built on sandstone. For centuries people had been digging into the rock to make caves for dwellings and storage rooms. I lived in a house on Cliff Road; so named, because on the opposite side of the street was a sandstone cliff face.  My father was drafted for military service at the outbreak of WWII which meant that my mother was a single parent. For six long years we endured harsh and perilous wartime conditions: food rationing and regular air raid warnings. My earliest memory is the wailing of those sirens, warning of approaching enemy aircraft. We all waited fearfully for the “all clear”– announcing that the danger had passed. My mother and I were more fortunate than many in that we had a safe place to hide; for just across the road was that sandstone cliff, with a doorway leading to the cellars of the neighborhood pub. On many nights we would hide until it was safe to emerge. That was our rock of refuge. The danger was real. One night, a thousand incendiary bombs fell on our city, killing over two-hundred people.  How often I have reflected on the clear ways the Lord was indeed our Rock, our Fortress, and our Deliverer during those difficult times.

Sometimes when life seems to be bombarding us with its hardships and trials, it is good for us to reflect on all the ways we have known our God to be the best place to find shelter. Psalm 18 reminds us that all we need to do is run to Him and wait.  We need not fear the outcome, for whatever befalls, He will be our stronghold and strength.