A SAFE HOUSE
10th Jan 2018
“God’s a safe-house for the battered,
a sanctuary during bad times.
The moment you arrive, you relax;
you’re never sorry you knocked.” (Psalm 9:9-10 in The Message)
When we are facing the challenges of sickness, family troubles, financial issues and the demands of life, one of the most common things we feel is utter loneliness. It seems as though no one has ever faced the challenges we are experiencing. That is a ploy of the devil who wants to isolate us.
This is the moment when we need a safe place, somewhere we are loved and accepted, with someone who understands and has the power to change our situation. I find the words of this psalm really hit the spot, “God’s a safe house for the battered.” We need to learn how to press into God at these difficult times.
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and they are safe.” As believers we should never become the victim of utter loneliness, we have a Father who cares and who is always waiting to welcome us and put His arms around us.
It is at these times when life is at its toughest that we need to step back from the problems we are facing and go to God. The psalm continues, “a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive you relax.” We can all think of places where we feel completely relaxed, it may be a certain place, or in the company of particular people. However, the most relaxing place of all is in the presence of our Father.
In another Psalm David declares, “You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm32:7) There is a place of comfort, understanding and even more than that, deliverance.
The psalm ends, “you’re never sorry you knocked.” Your knock will be answered!
by Charles Sibthorpe
