“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge.” (Psalm 71:1) The place of protection will take on different meaning for people. It will especially change depending what age a person is. A young child will find a special refuge in the arms of his mother or with a security blanket, while a business man will find it in the profit of his business account. Throughout life, we find refuge in various places and with different people. The common thread is that refuge is found in something or someone that we have confidence and trust in.
I was reminded about our need for a place of refuge when a few months ago I heard a true story about a young soldier in the Korean War. His squad was in a horrible fire fight with the enemy. Several of his buddies were wounded on the battle field and crying out for help. His sergeant gave the order for him to go get his buddies and bring them to the safety of the foxhole. As his sergeant walked off, the soldier looked at his watch and waited.
A few minutes later, the sergeant returned and repeated the order. He was frustrated that the soldier had not obeyed his command with an immediate response. The soldier grabbed his gear, looking as if he was headed out to rescue his wounded friends. Then he glanced at his watch and again failed to obey orders. Finally, a friend beside him in the foxhole asked him what he was waiting for and why did he keep glancing at his watch.
The soldier said, “When I left to fight in the war, my Mom told me that at the top of every hour she would be on her knees praying for my protection. I knew that if I could wait until the top of the hour that I would have the protection of my mother’s prayers.” In the midst of this hellish war, in midst of the bombs, grenades and machine gun fire, this young soldier found his refuge, not in the cover or protection of his fellow soldiers, but from the power of his mother’s prayers.
Where do you find refuge and protection? Is it in your own abilities? I hope not, because the day will come when they will fail. Is it in your riches and bank account? I hope not, because the day will come and they can not purchase another day of life, or provide peace and comfort. Like the soldier in our story, be careful to take a good glance at time—the time of the seasons, the time of the ages, and the time of God’s promises. He is our refuge and our protection. And when life becomes more dangerous than no-man’s land in the battlefield of life, Jesus alone has the ability to keep our hearts and minds in peace. After all, He is more than a friend. He is…the best protection!
