By GARY ANDREWS
gary@gadevotionals.com
I once read a story of a young farmer that raised cattle on a small family farm. Raising these cattle and taking care of them until they could be sold was the major source of income for his family. As this young man worked one day carrying a heavy load he slipped and fell hurting his ankle. Being young and not needing anyone else’s help, this young farmer put himself into a precarious situation of needing someone.
As many of us in life, we thought that we would never have to depend on someone else for help when it came time to providing for our family. This young man kept trying to work however with his hurt ankle he was falling behind on mending fences, cutting hay, keeping his cattle fed, and all of the work that comes with running a farm. Finally he told his wife that he was going to ask his neighbor for help. In desperation he commented, “I don’t know what I’ll do if he can’t help me. He’s my last hope.”
Many of us have made the same statement throughout our years of earning a living and taking care of our family. When we have faced circumstances needing legal help we may have called on an attorney friend for advice and help. The same holds true for financial difficulties and we called on our banker. The list goes on: car trouble we call on a mechanic, sickness we call on a doctor, however most of the time we call on a family member that knows us and understands what we are going through. We might say that we turn to family and take refuge in them.
Refuge is a term used many times in the Old Testament. We see all of the woes and troubles the Israelites went through however they always sought refuge in the Lord and He would see them through their problems. Refuge is somewhere we go to for comfort, safety, protection, and security. At some point in our life we need more than advice; we need help.
We are no different today than the Israelites were then. For those of us that know the Lord personally can call on Him anytime, anywhere, and not only will He listen, but He will guide us through our problems. Those of us that have accepted Jesus through faith understand that He has given us a helper who is with us all of the time. He leads us in the right direction if we will listen to Him. He also provides help for us through others if we let go of our pride and lower our egos to the point of asking for help.
We are told by the minor prophet in Nahum 1:7; “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.”
Our refuge is in the Lord God and He will provide for us. Remember, no one can ever drive you lower than your knees!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for being my refuge. You have greatly provided for me and my family and helped us throughout our lives. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday- Ruth 1:15-22; Monday – 1 Peter 1:3-9; Tuesday – Psalm 46:1-3; Wednesday – Revelation 6:12-17; Thursday – Numbers 10:11-36; Friday – Hebrews 6:13-20; Saturday – Daniel 3:19-25.) A340-15
