The Promise of a Stronghold

Ever been afraid . . . oppressed . . . fainthearted? Ever think you have no place to turn or any means of escape from a terrible situation?

Good news! The LORD promises to be a "stronghold" to those who come to Him in faith for help.

The LORD is my rock, 

my fortress and my deliverer,

my God is my rock,

in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold."

~Psalm 18:2

You can hide BEHIND the LORD as you would a mighty rock. Nothing can penetrate Him to get to you. You are tucked safely behind the Rock who will protect you.

You can hide IN the LORD as one seeking refuge in a fortress. The enemy can't get to you without first getting past the defenses set in place by the Commander of the fortress.

You are safe BESIDE your deliverer, the Lord God Himself  . . . your stronghold.

Does this mean you will never again experience physical suffering? No, it means that God will give you:

• grace to endure, 
• wisdom to flee, 
• understanding to change things, or an
• escape of His choosing. 

It means that you will find rest for your soul recognizing that you are part of a larger battle than you thought. Your oppressor is not your enemy: your enemy is the one who inflames your oppressor. And the only One who can overcome that enemy--Satan--is God.

"The one who is in you is greater

than the one who is in the world."

~ John 4:4 (NIV)

So, rest in the knowledge that help is available to those who place themselves in the keeping of the God of the Bible: Father, Son, and Spirit. Don't be afraid to ask Him: He wants to help you. Find a Bible and read, read, read. Your soul will be refreshed and your heart will be strengthened.

A String of Pearls - Psalm 46:7,11

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 46:7, 11 “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.”

Meditation:

Have you ever felt small and alone? At times I have felt as insignificant as a speck of dust, that no one would miss me if I dropped off the face of the earth.

Jacob may have felt that way when he left his home after a lifetime of deception and fraud. Off into the desert he fled from his angry brother Esau, fled for his life! Bedding down for the night, head on a stone pillow, Jacob had time to consider the blessing he had stolen from his brother, to consider what a wretch he had been. But as sleep overcame him, he dreamed of angels ascending and descending a stairway. Above the stairway stood the LORD.

The LORD told Jacob that he would bless him with land and descendants to cover it like the dust of the earth. Suddenly, that speck of dust, alone and wretched, was promised a future and an inheritance. Did he deserve such a blessing? No. Hadn’t he just stolen a much smaller blessing from his brother? Yes. Yet God promised to protect Jacob and became a fortress for his people.

God chooses to bless whom he will, even those who have strayed far from home, who are fleeing past mistakes, who rest their heads in stony places, who feel small and alone. Why? God’s view is eternal: he sees the big picture. He has a Master Plan.

SELAH

Look up: Genesis 28:10-15; Psalm 19:1; Jeremiah 29:11.