The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know Your name trust in You,
for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.
Psalms 9:9-10

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 Shelter  –

1: a structure that covers or protects people or things
2: a place that provides food and protection for people or animals that need assistance
3: a place to live

Refuge  –

1: shelter or protection from danger or trouble
2: a place that provides shelter or protection

How wonderful is our God! He strives to be our Friend, our Provider, and our Refuge.  All we have to do is ask.  We may say that is easier said than done, but trust me, it can be.

For those who have grown up in a normal household, you probably have a healthy reality of what a home should be—calm, peaceful, neat, well-groomed…both inside and out. At least I thought this was so.

Growing up for me was not this way.  I started out pretty okay. My birth parents gave me up for adoption at an early age. My maternal aunt and uncle adopted me. They had just lost a child and knew that my mother was not able to care for me. So they raised me as best they could. I had clothes to wear, food to eat, went to school. But I always felt different.

They were able to have another child, a boy, and we grew up as brother and sister.   Dad set Mom up with a store when we moved to another city.  We lived in an old building with the store in the front and living space in the back.  It was our shelter, our refuge.  I learned life was not always fair. But God always provided a way.  I learned to forgive and know God gives people choices in their actions.  I learned guilt, shame, disgust and dread there. But I also learned about God’s provision. I learned God was always there. Every tear I cried, God cried. Every thing I did wrong, God was there shaking His head. Everything done to me, He cried and cheered when I forgave.

I was saved in a  little country Baptist church and was baptized.  I learned about Jesus and this truth:

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 KJV

I learned about Lottie Moon and Corrie Ten Boom and about missionaries.  I learned about performing with puppets; I sang in the choir and did 4-H things with school.  But I also learned what it was like to be excluded.  I was not exposed to drugs or went to parties where those things were.  God protected me although I did not always see it.

I had choices to make: I could either live thinking about what had been taken away from me…or I could give them to God and know He would be faithful to restore them back to me.  So I made those choices, everyday, to live (and still do).  I do not always succeed but I do my best.  God is my Shelter and my Refuge.  He is the one I am learning to run to for all things. Not to others, but to God first. If there is someone who can help in my situation, I would pray for God to point me in this person’s direction for help and guidance.

Beginning today, let us have a new attitude. Let us learn from our past. Let us choose to give it all to God.  Let us learn to live the life God has intended for us.  Let us pray for peace in our lives.  Let the Holy Spirit give us what we need to overcome any obstacle which presents itself as a roadblock. We can have happiness; though, at times, we may have to seek it more intentionally.

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Father, send Your Holy Spirit so we can see how Your light, Your provisions, Your grace and mercy is always present in our lives.  Teach us Your ways.  And show us how to be better followers of Jesus and selfless in how we are to walk.  Thank you for Your Word—your instruction manual for our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.