God is our refuge. A refuge is a “shelter or protection from danger” (Webster’s). It is a location in which we have implicit trust as a place of fortification against all threats. Soldiers in battle have peace when they are able to find a refuge from the fighting. Seamen have comfort when they take refuge from a frightful storm. When we finally arrive home after driving through inclement weather, is there not relief to know we have finally found refuge? How much greater, then, when facing dangers to the faith, is the refuge available with God? God is the one with whom we know answers to the questions of life and death reside. Might every answer we seek be provided? No (Deuteronomy 29:29). But every answer we need is present (2 Peter 1:3). Nothing can completely absolve the sting of death, but God is the means by which faith can remain intact and untouched by the questions that often are asked as we grieve. Elsewhere the Psalmist would say: “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast” (Psalm 57:1); “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 59:16); “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8); and “ I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2). Yes, God serves as a means of comfort as our refuge from the chaos that can often result from grief.
God is our strength. It is natural to, when in times of deep despair, ask questions of our faith that otherwise we would never consider. And these questions rarely come from a true skepticism, but rather from a desire to understand why certain things occur. But while these questions may be natural, they can also be dangerous if left unresolved in our hearts because sometimes they turn to skepticism and then to doubt, which ultimately will either weaken or absolve our faith. God, though, is in a position to help us overcome those times of despair. As much as anybody in history, Job stands out as an individual who had to face grief head on and resolve questions that arose in his life that otherwise could have caused him to lose his faith. But he turned to God for strength and by example encouraged others to do the same. Speaking of God, Job would write: “If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong…” (Job 9:19); “With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13); “With him is strength and wisdom…” (Job 12:16); and “Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom” (Job 36:5). In times of emotional and spiritual weakness, God is our source of strength.
God is our very present help. Does God help? Yes; and His means of help has been seen above. What is interesting about this statement are the qualifying words “very present.” God is always there and always one upon whom we can rely. He never takes a day off, He is always on call, and He is never too busy to give aid. We have the comfort of knowing that, like the Psalmist, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:8-10). Isaiah’s soothing realization was, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear…” (Isaiah 59:1). At all times, God is present. His help is “just a prayer away.”
Grief is common. The guilt that accompanies grief is a regular reaction to disasters. God, though, is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We should seek His counsel, yield to His commands, and enjoy His comfort through life and eternity.