So Many Differences

“Safe place.” “Shelter.” “Haven.” “Refuge.” These are some words we use to describe a place we go to in the middle of a storm or something else that disrupts the safety we have around us. You’ve probably had a tornado drill at school where your whole class takes cover by crowding into a space with no windows. Or perhaps you’ve had a fire drill where you go outside and find safety by distancing yourself from the building. Maybe you remember taking shelter indoors when there was a severe thunderstorm.

But where do you go during life’s storms? Where do you turn when your best friend decides she doesn’t want to hang out with you anymore? Or when you’re injured during a game and have to sit out for the rest of the season? What happens when your grandpa has a heart attack? What about when your mom is diagnosed with cancer? Where do you find refuge then?

When you’re hit with life’s storms, it can be tempting to turn to many things to find refuge. Maybe you turn on the TV or open the pantry to numb the pain. But the Bible tells us that true refuge is found in Jesus. When we look to Him—crying out to Him in the midst of whatever we face—we can experience Him as our refuge. • E. Marie

• What are some things you’re tempted to turn to in times of trouble?

• Since God is your refuge, how can you begin to “pour out your heart to him†when you face life’s storms (Psalm 62:8)?

• In Christ, is there anything we can’t bring before God (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 5:7)?

• What are some storms you are going through right now? Take some time to talk with God about them.

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 (NLT)

Read Verses:

John 4:1-43