God Is…

O God, our refuge and strength, true source of all godliness: Graciously hear the devout prayers of your Church, and grant that those things which we ask faithfully, we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Of the many biblical descriptions that point to God’s protection, four stick out to me: The Lord is our rock and fortress, our refuge and strength, our shield and stronghold, and a defender of the helpless needy (Psalm 18:2; 46:1; 91:2; Isaiah 25:4). The Lord is a source of safety for all who trust Him.

So, when shaky events surround us, we need to remember:

God is our source of help. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it, and they are safe” (Proverbs 18:10). King David trusted this promise when he penned: “Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to him, ‘You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1–2, GNT)

God is our source of confidence. In every challenge, God is always immovably present and trustworthy. And, as every good shepherd does, he leads us through daunting valleys to places of safety.

God is our source of peace. Paul tells us that if we combat worries and anxieties with prayer and thanksgiving, we will experience divine peace (Philippians 4:6). In other words, through prayer and praise, we grasp a sense of God’s wholeness and peace that everything will work together for good.

As we trudge through a troubled world, may we make the Lord our source of help, confidence, and peace; for “it is in Him that we live and move and keep on living.” (Acts 17:28, NLV)