Our Refuge in Times of Trouble

Today we are studying the idea of God as our refuge in times of trouble. Let’s begin in a simple prayer as we consider and study today’s psalm:

Holy Spirit, my safe and secure retreat, help me to reflect on Your word as I analyze what it means to run to You in times of trouble. I welcome Your presence in my life today and in these next few moments of study. Amen.

Psalm 9 (NLT)

1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;

    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

2 I will be filled with joy because of you.

    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies retreated;

    they staggered and died when you appeared.

4 For you have judged in my favor;

    from your throne you have judged with fairness.

5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;

    you have erased their names forever.

6 The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;

   the cities you uprooted are now forgotten.

7 But the Lord reigns forever,

   executing judgment from his throne.

8 He will judge the world with justice

    and rule the nations with fairness.

9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,

    a refuge in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name trust in you,

    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.

    Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.

12 For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless.

    He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.

13 Lord, have mercy on me.

    See how my enemies torment me.

    Snatch me back from the jaws of death.

14 Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates,

    so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.

    Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.

16 The Lord is known for his justice.

    The wicked are trapped by their own deeds. Quiet Interlude

17 The wicked will go down to the grave.

    This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.

18 But the needy will not be ignored forever;

    the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

19 Arise, O Lord!

    Do not let mere mortals defy you!

    Judge the nations!

20 Make them tremble in fear, O Lord.

    Let the nations know they are merely human. Interlude

I think it’s safe to say that many of us today are not running from enemies as our author David described in today’s reading. But if you are a living, breathing person, it is likely that you have experienced distress, and you have probably felt oppressed or attacked by others who have made it their agenda to ruin you. Today’s medical community has a common term called “coping mechanisms” to describe the behavior of someone who is trying to escape concerns and problems. Some of these mechanisms include: avoidance, emotional eating, procrastination, and substance abuse. If you or someone you know has been subject to any of these unhealthy habits, you shouldn’t feel ashamed. We all have a tendency to run from trouble and “self-medicate”.

In your times of trouble, where do you run? In today’s scripture, David guides us through his method. First, in David’s earlier years, he was running away from someone out to kill him. His response was to take his concerns to God verbally in praise and singing. He simply told God all about it. Second, David described and recognized God as his “refuge.” Strong’s Concordance best translates this Hebrew word in English as, “a secure height, retreat, stronghold.” When we experience trouble, we can be assured that if we take our concerns to God and recognize that He is our secure, high God, then, just like He did with David, God will save us and keep us in His safe stronghold.

What is your initial reaction when you are faced with conflict or trouble? Take a moment and ask God to help you identify what makes you react or feel unsafe or insecure.

Is there something that you run to in order to escape trouble? Is it possible that you use a cheap or ineffective substitute to help you feel safe? What is one practical way that you can exercise running to God instead of running to that substitute?

After spending some time reflecting on these questions, take your fears and needs to God in honest prayer. Below are a few prompts to help get you started.

Ask God to help you, in the moment, when you are feeling oppressed, attacked, or unsafe, and then ask Him to fill you with His presence and power in those moments.  

Ask God to reassure and walk with you the next time you are feeling afraid, oppressed, or attacked.

May God’s ever-constant power and peace strengthen you today as you walk with Him!