1 I’ve taken refuge in you, Lord.
Don’t let me ever be put to shame!
2 Deliver me and rescue me by your righteousness!
Bend your ear toward me and save me!
3 Be my rock of refuge
where I can always escape.
You commanded that my life be saved
because you are my rock and my fortress.
4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked;
rescue me from the grip of the wrongdoer and the oppressor
5 because you are my hope, Lord.
You, Lord, are the one I’ve trusted since childhood.
6 I’ve depended on you from birth—
you cut the cord when I came from my mother’s womb.
My praise is always about you.
Reflection
“In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame” (Psalm 71:1).
The psalms return again and again to this image of God as a refuge — a stronghold, a fortress, a shelter, a rock. All of these metaphors point to one truth: in God we find safety when the world around threatens to undo us.
I have never drawn closer to God than in the seasons when everything felt like it was falling apart. When relationships collapsed, when finances were tight, when criticism cut deep, I turned to God for protection, reassurance, and the reminder that I was not alone. God’s presence became my refuge and my stronghold.
Even if you only feel that sense of peace and security for a few moments throughout the day, those brief encounters can mean everything. Knowing that there is a safe place where you can retreat, pour out your heart without fear, and find some reassurance that you are not forgotten – this can make all the difference when it feels like you are fighting for your life. Memories of that peace can sustain you in the hours where you feel overwhelmed.
If you are in the middle of the storm right now, hear this promise: God is a refuge. In prayer, in community, in scripture, in worship — you can step into the shelter of God’s presence. There, you will find strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
by Joe Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
If you want to study this idea further, take a look at this resource that lists all the places in the Psalms where we find the imagery of shelter, fortress, or hiding place.
Prayer: Today, I give you thanks that you are my shelter in the storm and my hiding place when enemies pursue me. Call me back to you when I feel afraid. Amen.
