By Guest Writer
Scripture Reading: Psalm 55:1-23, Psalm 56:1-13, Psalm 57:1-11, Psalm 58:1-11
Our family recently took a trip to a camp in the mountains of Colorado. It had fallen into major disrepair over the years, so when we heard they were looking for volunteers to help with projects around the property, we were thrilled to join! We booked our flights and headed out. I knew we would be very close to the mountains, but what I did not realize was that the camp was actually built into the side of a mountain. As we drove past the tree line and pulled up to the front gates at camp, my heart dropped into my stomach. We were sitting at about 9,000 feet in elevation.
Mount Princeton was directly in front of us and so close it felt like we could touch it. From the balcony of our cabin we could see the outstretched valley below us. During the morning hours the valley was covered in bright sunlight, but by afternoon, the sun had dipped just behind the mountain enough that a massive shadow was cast over the entire valley. You could see exactly where the sun started and stopped. It was massive and powerful to see every day.
When David wrote about his soul taking refuge in the shadow of God’s wings in Psalm 57:1, I imagine it looked and felt like the shadow of Mount Princeton that I witnessed. The psalm’s superscription tells us that David had been fleeing from Saul. He was worried for his safety, had nowhere to turn, and was hiding from his enemies. I’m sure he was feeling anxious and afraid. Sometimes, when it feels like the world is out of control, we long for a place of security and rest.
Like David, I, too, have felt worried and scared. And I have found that the best thing I can do is go to God and seek His shelter. When we cry out to Him, the truth of His character and His love give us refuge from the turmoil we are feeling. God offers protection even in the midst of a storm that appears to have no end in sight. Our immediate circumstances may not change, but when we trust Him we move from fear and despair to hope and peace.
My favorite part of this psalm is the way we can see David move from fear and desperation to joy. Toward the end of the psalm he had begun to sing praises and give thanks to God! While the enemy would love to remind us of the loneliness and hopelessness we feel in scary circumstances, we can take refuge under the wings of God’s protection—and have hope.
Written by Lauren Eve
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