I Am a Refugee

It was dark when I woke up this morning. It is just that time of year, when it is not bright enough out to convince that I am really supposed to get out of my cocoon and go sit in my cold, dark living room and read my Bible. Except that I know Jesus is waiting to meet with me, that His Word is life, and that my day will be better for it. The fact that I set my coffee to brew automatically doesn't hurt either...I can smell it from my bedroom...love that smell.

Anyway, I was sitting here this morning reading in the Psalms. 56 and 57 to be exact, trusting God under persecution. What I have learned through my five years of actively pursuing God is that Christians are not exempt from problems. Following hard after God doesn't mean your life will be perfect. (Can I get an Amen?!) But, what it does promise is that you will never again walk alone through your troubles. It also means that in your Bible you have all the instruction you need to deal with trouble. The tricky part is doing it.

I am a can-do kind of girl. Independent. Sassy to a degree. I like to fight my own battles to prove that I am right. God, however, has not asked us to do that. He has asked...no, commanded, us to take refuge in Him. Let Him get His hands dirty on our behalf. For someone who likes to get the last word, that is not so easy.

God has allowed a situation into my life lately where it would be really easy, and even justified in the world's eyes, to do some mud-slinging. But, God is very clear about His expectation. If you are in a hard spot right now, even one that would normally demand an aggressive response, may I point you to Psalm 56 and Psalm 57?

As I sat here this morning, reading in my Bible, letting the words sink in, it officially became day time. The world is a little brighter. And I am grateful that I crawled out of my cocoon, to sit with my Lord, for "He has delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of life." Psalm 56:13.

He will do the same for you if you let him.